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PRINCETON     COLLEGE 


DURING  THB 


EIGHTEENTH    CENTURY. 


BY 

SAMUEL    DAVIES    ALEXANDER, 

•I 

AN    ALUMNUS. 


NEW   YORK: 
ANSON    D.    F.    RANDOLPH    &    COMPANY, 

770  BROADWAY,  COR.  gth  STREET. 


T- 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 

ANSON  D.  F.  RANDOLPH  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE. 

ON  account  of  the  many  sources  from  which  I  have  derived  my  in 
formation,  and  not  wishing  to  burden  my  page  with  foot-notes,  I  have 
omitted  all  authorities.  I  have  drawn  from  printed  books,  from  old  news 
papers  and  periodicals,  and  from  family  records,  and  when  the  words  of 
another  have  suited  me,  1  have  used  them  as  my  own.  As  Dr.  Allen 
says,  "  Compilers  seem  to  be  licensed  pillagers.  Like  the  youth  of 
Sparta,  they  may  lay  their  hands  upon  plunder  without  a  crime,  if  they 
will  but  seize  it  with  adroitness." 

Allen's  Biographical  Dictionary,  Sprague's  Annals,  and  Duyckinck's 
Cyclopaedia  of  American  Literature,  have  been  of  the  greatest  service  ; 
but  in  many  instances  I  have  gone  to  the  original  sources  from  which 
they  derived  their  information.  I  have  also  used  freely  the  Centennial 
Discourses  of  Professors  Giger  and  Cameron  of  the  College. 

The  book  does  not  profess  to  be  a  perfect  exhibition  of  the  graduates. 
But  it  is  a  beginning  that  may  be  carried  nearer  to  perfection  in  every 
succeeding  year.  Its  very  imperfection  may  lead  to  the  discovery  of 
new  matter,  and  the  correction  of  errors  which  must  unavoidably  be 
many. 

My  object  has  been  to  give  brief  sketches  of  the  Alumni  after  their 
graduation,  yet  often  stating  the  place  of  birth  and  name  of  parents. 
Out  of  894  graduates  during  the  i8th  Century,  I  have  noticed  646. 
The  remaining  names  may  be  sketched  hereafter  in  a  supplement,  and 
it  is  hoped  that  this  publication  will  stimulate  those  who  possess  informa 
tion  of  any  of  those  whose  names  are  omitted  to  send  the  same  to  the 
compiler. 

I  return  my  sincere  thanks  to  those  persons  who  have  assisted  me  in 
this  work.  S.  D.  A. 


M531734 


PREFACE. 

THE  history  of  a  College  is  best  read  in  the  lives  of 
her  sons.  The  history  of  the  changes  which  occur  in 
her  government  and  instruction  is  too  contracted  in  its 
nature.  To  take  in  the  grand  sweep  of  her  influence, 
we  must  follow  her  sons  as  they  go  forth  into  the  world 
to  mould  and  direct  the  elements  that  surround  them. 

The  biographical  notices  which  are  here  given  of  the 
graduates  of  Princeton,  are  something  more  than  mere 
personal  memoranda,  or  a  table  of  necrology  ;  they  are 
the  facts  of  a  grand  generalization,  which  will  demon 
strate  that  Princeton  has  had  much  to  do  in  securing  the 
liberties  of  our  country  ;  in  founding  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  this  land '/*  and  in  introducing  and  stimulating  the  higher 
forms  of  Academic  and  Collegiate  learning.  These  Sketches 
are  not  selected  from  the  great  body  of  graduates ;  but  it 
is  the  whole  number,  just  as  they  stand  in  the  Catalogue, 
so  far  as  their  history  could  be  traced. 

The  mutterings  of  the  storm  which  afterwards  broke 
upon  the  country,  was  faintly  heard  by  the  early  gradu 
ates  who  left  the  College ;  but  their  lives  were  passed 
amidst  the  most  tremendous  struggles  of  Liberty  against 
Oppression ;  and  the  facts  to  be  presented  will  leave  no 
doubt  as  to  the  side  upon  which  the  sons  of  Princeton 

*  Other  Churches  besides  the  Presbyterian  are  well  represented  by  Prince 
ton  graduates.  James  Manning,  that  bright  light  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  the  founder  and  First  President  of  Brown  University,  was  an  Alumnus 
of  Princeton  ;  and  no  less  than  five  Bishops  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were 
graduates  of  Princeton,  viz.,  Clagget,  Hobart,  Meade,  Mcllvaine  and  Johns  ; 
while  some  of  the  most  distinguished  laymen  among  our  graduates  have 
been  members  of  that  Church. 

(vii) 


Viii  PREFACE. 

arrayed  themselves ;  they  but  carried  into  practice  the 
immortal  principles  instilled  into  them  by  those  noble 
men  who  guided  the  affairs  of  the  College. 

I  have  been  deeply  impressed,  while  gathering  these 
memorials,  that  the  Alumni  of  Princeton,  with  but  few 
exceptions,  as  far  as  I  can  discover,  stood  shoulder  to 
shoulder  on  the  side  of  their  country.  Ministers  and 
laymen  vied  with  each  other  who  should  lead  the  van. 

When  we  examine  the  first  movements  which  resulted 
in  Independence,  we  shall  find  that  the  graduates  of 
Princeton  were  among  the  earliest  as  their  originators  or 
their  most  hearty  promoters. 

Let  a  few  facts  tell  the  story :  The  first  bloodshed  of 
the  Revolution  was  not  at  Lexington,  but  several  years 
earlier,  on  the  Alamance,  in  North  Carolina,  in  an  engage 
ment  between  Governor  Tryon's  troops  and  the  "  Regu 
lators,"  on  the  1 6th  of  May,  1771.  And  who  were  these 
Regulators  ?  Not  a  set  of  adventurers,  but  the  sturdy 
members  of  three  Presbyterian  Congregations,  who  had 
as  their  pastors  three  graduates  of  Princeton ;  one  of 
whom  had  been  for  days  endeavouring  to  procure  peace, 
and,  on  the  day  of  battle,  was  on  the  ground,  still  hoping 
to  avert  the  blow. 

When  the  party  of  patriots  went  aboard  the  "  Tea 
Ship"  in  Boston  Harbour,  THOMAS  MELVILLE,  a  graduate 
of  the  class  of  1769,  was  among  the  number;  and  the  only 
specimen  of  that  historic  tea  that  escaped  the  destruction 
of  that  night  was  found  the  next  morning  in  the  shoes  of 
Melville,  and,  being  placed  in  a  vial,  is  extant  at  this 
day. 

When  the  heavy  hand  of  arbitrary  power  became  al 
most  unbearable,  and  before  the  country  was  aware  that 
relief  was  possible,  a  little  band  of  brave  souls  in  North 
Carolina  were  at  their  secluded  homes  laying  the  founda 
tions  for  the  Temple  of  Liberty.  And  who  were  these 
men  who  conceived  and  published  the  Mecklenburg 
Resolutions — who  consecrated  "life,  fortune  and  sacred 
honour"  (their  own  words)  to  the  country's  deliverance? 


PREFACE.  IX 

The  man  who  penned  these  Resolutions,  and  who  was 
the  Secretary  of  the  Convention  which  adopted  them,  was 
EPHRAIM  BREVARD,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  of  the  class  of 
1768.     Next  to  him,  and  perhaps  the  most  influential  man 
who  signed  the  immortal  paper,  was  HEZEKIAH  JAMES 
BALCH,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1766;    and,  to  form 
a   trinity  of    Princeton    Heroes,  we   add    the   name   of 
WAIGHTSTILL  AVERY,  of  the  class  of  1766.   Here,  then,  was 
the  first  impetus  given  to  the  cause  of  Liberty  by  men 
who  had  so  lately  come  forth  from  the  cradle  of  freedom 
and  learning.     When  one  of  the  graduates  of  Princeton 
was   rudely   aroused    from    sleep   by   the  owner  of  the 
house  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  had  stopped  to  rest, 
entering  his  room  and  saying,  "  I  allow  no  man  to  sleep 
under  my  roof  but  a  Whig ;"  he  answered,  "  Let  me  rest 
in  peace,  then,  for  I  graduated  at  Princeton  under  Dr. 
Witherspoon,  a  Signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence;"  that  is  a  sufficient  pass-word  for  him.     A  single 
incident  in  the  life  of  this  great  man  will  show  the  influ 
ence  which  pervaded  Princeton.     When  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  on  its  passage  in  the  Continental 
Congress,  and   the   result  was   doubtful,  the  scale  was 
turned,  in  a  great  measure,  by  a  speech  of  Dr.  Wither 
spoon.     In  the  course  of  that  speech  (when  he  perceived 
the  House  to  be  wavering)  he  said  :  "  There  is  a  tide  in 
the  affairs  of  men — a  nick  of  time.     We  perceive  it  now 
before  us.      To  hesitate  is  to  consent  to  slavery.     That 
noble  instr  ment  on  your  table,  which  insures  immor 
tality  to  its  mthor,  should  be  subscribed  this  very  morn 
ing  by  evei  r  pen  in  this  House.     For  my  own  part,  of 
property  I    ave  some — of  reputation  more.     That  repu 
tation  is  sta  .ed  upon  the  issue  of  this  contest — that  prop 
erty  is  pledged;    and    although  these  gray  hairs  must 
soon  descer.d  into  the  sepulchre,  I  had  infinitely  rather 
they  should   descend  thither  by  the  hands  of  the  public 
executione    than  desert,  at  this  crisis,  the  sacred  cause 
of  my  country."     No  wonder  his  name  was  a  pass-word 
throughout  the  American  lines. 


x  PREFACE. 

When  the  Continental  Congress  met,  and  throughout 
its  many  dark  and  desponding,  yet  heroic  sessions,  Prince 
ton  was  present  during  different  times,  in  the  person  of 
twenty-four  of  her  sons ;  and  when  that  Congress  was 
called  upon  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  to  sign  the  Declara 
tion  of  Independence,  Princeton  answered  by  her  Presi 
dent  and  two  of  her  Alumni.  . 

Every  department  of  the  army  found  her  well  re 
presented.  Almost  every  Presbyterian  clergyman  who 
had  come  forth  from  her  walls  was,  at  one  time  or 
another,  either  a  chaplain,  an  officer,  or  in  the  ranks.  In 
the  last  letter  which  one  of  these  wrote  to  his  wife  be 
fore  he  was  barbarously  murdered,  after  he  had  surren 
dered,  are  these  touching  words  :  "  We  are  going  over 
to  attack  the  enemy.  You  would  think  it  strange  to  see 
your  husband,  an  old  man,  riding  with  a  French  fusee 
slung  at  his  shoulder.  This  may  be  the  last  letter  you 
shall  ever  receive  from  your  husband." 

Let  the  sketches  that  follow  prove  the  assertion,  that 
the  Alumni  of  Princeton  were  ever  the  staunchest,  brav 
est,  most  self-sacrificing,  most  persevering  friends  of 
American  Liberty. 

Not  only  were  the  graduates  of  Princeton  unanimous 
in  their  patriotic  work,  but  the  Presbyterian  Church 
owes  a  stupendous  debt  of  gratitude  to  these _men,  which 
she  should,  even  at  this  late  day,  begin  to  rej  ay.  Of  the 
six  graduates  of  the  first  class,  five  became  l  resbyterian 
ministers,  and  the  sixth  was  RICHARD  STOCKS  ON,  a  strong 
Presbyterian,  as  his  Will  conclusively  proves.  Of  the 
second  class  of  seven,  six  became  Presbyteri  n  ministers, 
and  the  seventh  was  WILLIAM  BURNET,  an  .Elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  during  life.  And  how  rerparkable  has 
the  work  of  these  men,  and  of  those  who  followed  them, 
been  in  laying  the  foundations  of  the  Presbyte  ian  Church 
in  those  forming  communities  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Ken- 


PREFACE.  xi 

tucky  and  Tennessee — the  very  strongholds  of  Presbyte- 
>  rianism  at  this  day  ! 

When  Samuel  Davies  left  his  work  in  Virginia  to  as 
sume  his  place  at  Princeton,  he  left  as  his  successor  JOHN 
TODD,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  of  the  class  of  1749 ;  and 
although  at  first  he  stood  alone,  he  was  soon  reinforced 
from  the  same  old  Halls  by  men  of  like  mind  and  like 
holy  purpose ;  and  their  works  do  follow  them.  JOHN 
TODD,  and  WILLIAM  GRAHAM,  and  SAMUEL  STANHOPE 
SMITH,  all  of  Princeton,  will  ever  be  honoured  for  their 
foundation  work  in  behalf  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Virginia.  North  Carolina  early  felt  the  power  of  Princeton; 
and  HUGH  McADEN,  HEZEKIAH  JAMES  BALCH,  JOSEPH 
ALEXANDER,  and  DAVID  CALDWELL,  fresh  from  College, 
gathered  the  scattered  families  into  permanent  Presbyte 
rian  Churches.  Western  Pennsylvania,  the  home  of  bloody 
savage  warfare,  but  now  the  very  fountain  of  Presbyte 
rian  power,  welcomed  from  Princeton  those  noble,  self- 
sacrificing  pioneers,  THADDEUS  DOD,  JOHN  MCMILLAN, 
and  others  of  kindred  spirit;  and  Tennessee  and  Ken 
tucky  tell  the  same  story.  All  these  men,  with  hardly 
an  exception,  were  graduates  of  Princeton. 

The  testimony  of  General  Joseph  Reed,  that  eminent 
patriot,  in  reference  to  the  influence  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  on  our  great  struggle  for  Liberty,  is  worth  remem 
bering.  Of  that  Church  he  wrote  :  "When  I  am  convinced 
of  its  errors,  or  ashamed  of  its  character,  I  may  perhaps 
change  it ;  till  then  I  shall  not  blush  at  a  connection  with 
a  people  who,  in  this  great  controversy,  are  not  second 
to  any  in  vigorous  exertions  and  generous  contributions, 
and  to  whom  we  are  so  eminently  indebted  for  our  de 
liverance  from  the  thraldom  of  Great  Britain." 

But  the  influence  of  the  Alumni  of  Princeton  on  the 
higher  forms  of  education  in  our  country,  is  more  re 
markable  than  all.  By  the  side  of  the  Church  they 
planted  the  Classical  School,  out  of  which  grew  many  of 
our  most  important  colleges.  What  breadth  of  views 
these  men  must  have  possessed  ;  what  a  foresight  into  the 


Xll  PREFACE. 

future  of  the  country,  which  prompted  them  to  inaugu 
rate  these  higher  schools  of  learning  in  the  very  wilder 
ness,  and  amidst  the  very  clangor  of  savage  war !  But 
they  were  men  mighty  in  faith,  mighty  in  prayer,  and 
mighty  in  work,  and  we  this  day  humbly  and  gratefully 
acknowledge  their  wisdom  and  their  heroism.  But  let 
me  adduce  a  few  facts  to  establish  the  claim  that  Prince 
ton  graduates  have  ever  fostered  the  higher  educational 
interests  of  our  country. 

The  man  chosen  to  visit  Great  Britain  and  collect 
funds  for  an  Indian  Mission  School  in  Connecticut,  which 
afterwards  grew  into  Dartmouth  College,  was  NATHANIEL 
WHITAKER,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1752.  The  College 
of  Rhode  Island  (afterwards  Brown  University)  had  its 
origin  in  the  conception  and  personal  exertions  of  JAMES 
MANNING,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1762  ;  and  he  became 
its  first  President.  Union  College,  New  York,  owes  its 
existence  in  a  great  measure  to  the  persevering  exertions 
of  THEODORE  DIRCK  ROMEYN,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of 
1765,  and  its  first  President  was  JOHN  BLAIR  SMITH,  a 
graduate  of  the  class  of  1773,  and  its  second  President  was 
JONATHAN  EDWARDS  of  the  class  of  1765.  Hamilton  Col 
lege,  New  York,  owes  its  existence  to  SAMUEL  KIRKLAND, 
a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1765,  through  whose  influence 
Hamilton  Oneida  Academy  was  incorporated,  and  to 
which  he  conveyed  a  large  landed  estate,  and  which  be 
came,  under  a  new  charter,  Hamilton  College.  The  first 
Medical  College  in  America,  at  Philadelphia,  was  founded 
by  WILLIAM  SHIPPEN,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1754.  He 
also  delivered  the  first  course  of  lectures  that  had  ever  been 
given  in  this  country  on  Anatomy  ;  and  the  first  medical 
degree  ever  conferred  in  this  country  was  by  this  college 
and  to  John  Archer,  a  graduate  of  Princeton,  of  the  class 
of  1760.  The  second  Medical  College  established  in  this 
country  was  at  New  York,  and  the  men  who  had  the  chief 
hand  in  it,  and  who  became  its  professors,  were  JAMES 
SMITH,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1757,  and  JOHN  V.  B. 
TENNENT  of  the  class  of  1758.  The  first  Provost  of  the 


PREFACE.  Xlll 

University  of  Pennsylvania  after  its  reorganization,  was 
JOHN  EWING,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1754.  When 
Queens  College  (Rutgers)  was  revived  in  1808,  Dr.  Liv 
ingston  became  the  nominal  President,  but  the  Vice-Pres 
ident  and  the  acting  President,  the  man  who  had  done 
more  than  any  other  in  its  revival,  was  IRA  CONDICT,  a 
graduate  of  the  class  of  1784.  In  1776  JOHN  BROWN,  a 
graduate  of  the  class  of  1749,  started  a  Grammar  School 
at  Timber  Ridge,  Virginia,  at  which  Dr.  Archibald  Al 
exander  attended  among  the  first  scholars.  This  school 
grew  into  Liberty  Hall,  and  that  into  Washington  Col 
lege,  over  which  we  find  as  first  President  WILLIAM  GRA 
HAM,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1773.  About  1776  SAMUEL 
STANHOPE  SMITH,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1769,  through 
his  eloquence  and  energy,  was  the  means  of  founding 
Hampden  Sidney  College  in  Virginia,  and  he  was  elected 
the  first  President.  The  second  President  was  JOHN  B. 
SMITH,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1773.  The  first  meeting 
of  the  Trustees  to  take  measures  for  founding  Dickinson 
College  in  Pennsylvania,  was  held  in  1783,  and  the  lead 
ing  man  in  the  Board  was  BENJAMIN  RUSH  of  the  class  of 
1760. 

In  1789,  THADDEUS  DOD,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1773, 
established  in  Western  Pennsylvania  an  Academy  which 
was  called  Washington  Academy,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  Principal ;  this  under  a  new  charter  became  Wash 
ington  College.  A  school  in  the  same  neighbourhood, 
called  the  Log  Cabin,  was  started  about  1790  by  JOHN 
McMiLLAN,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1772.  Under  a  new 
charter  it  became  Jefferson  College,  and  JOHN  WATSON,  a 
graduate  of  the  class  of  1797,  became  the  first  President, 
and  James  Dunlap,  of  the  class  of  1773,  the  second  Presi 
dent.  The  first  Classical  School  in  North  Carolina  was 
founded  by  JOSEPH  ALEXANDER,  a  graduate  of  the  class 
of  1760,  and  a  charter  was  obtained  from  the  Colonial  Leg 
islature  in  1770,  under  the  name  of  Queen's  Museum. 
This  charter  was  repealed  by  the  King  ;  but  a  new  char 
ter  was  granted  by  the  Legislature  in  1771,  and  again  re- 


PREFACE. 

pealed  by  Proclamation,  as  being  too  liberal.  But  still 
the  College  flourished  without  a  charter.  It  was  in  the 
halls  of  this  College  that  the  Mecklenburg  Convention 
held  its  sessions.  After  the  Revolution,  this  College  be 
came  Liberty  Hall  under  a  new  charter,  and  thirteen  of 
its  fifteen  Trustees  were  graduates  of  Princeton.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  this  College  was  transferred  to 
Winnsboro,  South  Carolina,  and  merged  in  Mount  Zion 
College,  over  which  THOMAS  H.  McCAULE,  a  graduate  of 
Princeton  of  the  class  of  1774,  presided.  Soon  after  the 
Revolution,  there  were  six  admirable  Classical  Schools  in 
North  Carolina,  five  of  them  being  under  the  direction 
of  graduates  of  Princeton.  In  1796,  JOSEPH  CALDWELL,  a 
graduate  of  the  class  of  1791,  became  Professor  of  Mathe 
matics  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  He  found 
the  College  in  a  state  of  disorganization,  but  by  his  faith 
ful  labour  and  energy,  it  was  saved  from  ruin,  and 
the  foundation  of  its  future  usefulness  laid.  Mr.  Cald- 
well  became  its  first  President  in  1804.  In  1811  here- 
signed,  and  ROBERT  HETT  CHAPMAN,  a  graduate  of  the 
class  of  1789,  succeeded  him,  but  he  remained  only  a  few 
years,  when  Mr.  Caldwell  was  recalled.  In  Georgia,  the 
second  Presidents  of  Franklin  College  and  Oglethorpe 
University  were  both  graduates  of  Princeton.  In  1810, 
HENRY  KOLLOCK,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1794,  was  elect 
ed  President  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  but  he  declined 
the  honour.  In  1785,  Martin  Academy,  the  first  literary 
institution  ever  established  in  the  great  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  was  founded  by  SAMUEL  DOAK,  a  graduate  of 
the  class  of  1775  ;  afterwards  it  received  a  charter  under 
the  name  of  Washington  College,  and  Mr.  Doak  became 
the  first  President.  In  1793,  the  Territorial  Legislature 
of  Tennessee  granted  a  charter  to  Greenville  College, 
and  HEZEKIAH  BALCH,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1776,  who 
had  conceived  and  matured  the  whole  plan,  was  elected 
the  first  President.  In  1785,  the  Legislature  of  North 
Carolina  granted  a  charter  to  Davidson  Academy,  located 
in  Davidson  County  (what  is  now  Tennessee),  THOMAS  B. 


PREFACE.  XV 

CRAIGHEAD,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1775,  being  the  main 
agent  in  securing  it.  In  course  of  time  this  Academy 
became  the  University  of  Nashville,  and  Mr.  Craighead 
was  elected  the  first  President.  In  1783,  Transylvania 
Seminary  (afterwards  University)  was  established  in  Ken 
tucky,  through  the  influence  of  CALEB  WALLACE,  a  grad 
uate  of  Princeton  ;  and  DAVID  RICE,  a  graduate  of  the 
class  of  1761,  became  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trus 
tees,  and  its  virtual  manager.  And  the  last  class  of  the 
century  furnished  two  Presidents ;  Jacob  Lindly,  the  first 
President  of  Ohio  University,  and  James  Carnahan  of  our 
own  venerable  college. 

Have  we  not,  then,  in  these  facts,  which  I  have  drawn 
from  my  biographical  notices,  overwhelming  evidence  of 
the  influence  of  Princeton,  in  originating  and  fostering 
the  higher  forms  of  education  in  the  formative  state  of 
our  country  ? 

Read  the  sketches  that  follow,  and  the  conviction  will 
be  irresistible,  that  the  Country,  the  Pr^byterian  Church, 
and  the  cause  of  high  Christian  Culture,  owe  their  present 
exalted  position  in  the  land  to  the  noble  men  who  went 
forth  from  Princeton  during  the  last  century. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


PRINCETON    COLLEGE 


DURING  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


I748. 

Enos  Ayres,  the  first  on  this  illustrious  catalogue, 
was  probably  a  native  of  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey. 
If  not,  he  was  certainly  residing  there  before  he  entered 
college,  as  his  correspondence  with  Dr.  Bellamy  shows. 
Mr.  Ayres  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York 
about  1750,  and  settled  as  the  pastor  of  the  Churches  at 
Bethlehem  and  Blooming  Grove,  Orange  County,  New 
York.  In  a  few  years  he  relinquished  the  charge  at 
Bethlehem,  and  continued  the  pastor  of  Blooming  Grove, 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1765. 

Benjamin  Chestnut  came  to  this  country  from 
England.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York  in  1749,  and  was  immediately  transferred  to  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  by  whom  he  was  or 
dained,  October  30,  1751,  and  settled  at  Woodbury  and 
Timber  Creek,  New  Jersey.  In  May,  1753,  he  resigned 
his  charge,  but  for  a  time  continued  to  supply  the  con 
gregations.  After  preaching  at  a  number  of  places,  he 
was  finally,  in  1756,  settled  as  the  pastor  of  Charleston 
and  Providence  Churches,  Pennsylvania.  In  1765,  Mr. 
Chestnut  visited  the  South  on  a  missionary  tour.  At 
one  time  he  taught  a  school  about  twenty  miles  from 


1748. 

Philadelphia.  Mr.  Chestnut  was  a  laborious  and  faithful 
minister:  besides  his  regular  duties,  he  was  untiring  in 
fulfilling  the  appointments  of  the  Presbytery,  in  mission 
ary  work,  extending  as  far  as  Egg  Harbour,  New  Jersey, 
and  the  adjacent  country  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  He  died 
in  1775. 

Hugh  Henry,  having  studied  theology,  was  ordain 
ed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  in  1751,  and  settled 
as  pastor  of  the  Churches  of  Rehoboth,  Wicomico  and 
Monokin,  in  Maryland.  President  Davies  spoke  of  him 
as  promising  great  usefulness.  He  was  a  laborious  and 
highly  esteemed  minister.  Mr.  Henry  died  in  1763. 

Israel  lleid,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  was  ordained 'by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns 
wick,  March  7,  1750,  and  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Presby 
terian  Church  at  Bound  Brook,  New  Jersey.  He  was 
the  first  graduate  of  Princeton  who  became  a  member 
of  the  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Reid,  besides  his  charge  at  Bound  Brook,  took 
charge  at  an  early  day  of  the  Church  at  New  Brunswick. 
He  died  after  a  life  of  great  usefulness,  November  28, 
I793- 

Richard  Stockton.  No  name  stands  higher  among 
the  Lawyers  and  Statesmen  of  America,  than  that  of 
Richard  Stockton.  He  was  the  son  of  John  Stockton, 
and  was  born  in  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  October  i,  1730. 
After  graduating,  he  studied  law  with  David  Ogden, 
of  Newark,  and  soon  became  prominent  in  his  profes 
sion. 

In  1766  he  visited  Europe,  where  he  was  received  with 
flattering  marks  of  friendship  and  respect  by  many  emi 
nent  noblemen,  gentlemen,  and  men  of  letters.  During 
this  visit,  his  life  was  in  imminent  peril  on  two  occasions  : 
once  he  was  attacked  at  night  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh 
by  a  desperate  robber,  and  after  a  severe  contest,  in 


1748- 

which  he  successfully  defended  himself  with  a  small 
sword,  now  in  possession  of  the  family,  he  repelled  the 
attack  without  receiving-  any  material  injury. 

The  second  escape  was  of  a  different  character.  He 
had  engaged  his  passage  in  a  packet  for  the  purpose  of 
crossing  the  Irish  Channel,  but  his  baggage  being  acci 
dentally  detained,  did  not  arrive  before  the  vessel  had 
sailed.  Although  greatly  disappointed,  it  proved  the 
cause  of  his  preservation,  for  the  vessel  in  which  he  in 
tended  to  embark  was  wrecked  in  a  violent  storm,  and 
every  soul  on  board  perished. 

In  1774  Mr.  Stockton  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  1776  was  offered  the 
Chief  Justiceship,  which  he  declined.  The  same  year  he 
was  elected  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  was  one 
of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  While 
a  member  of  Congress,  during  a  visit  to  the  house  of  a 
friend  in  Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey,  he  was  cap 
tured  by  a  party  of  royalists  and  thrown  into  prison  in 
New  York  city.  His  confinement  and  the  barbarity  of 
his  treatment  seriously  and  permanently  affected  his 
health.  He  obtained  his  release  through  the  interference 
of  Congress. 

Mr.  Stockton  had  an  unrivalled  reputation  at  the  bar ; 
and  it  is  said  that  he  always  refused  to  engage  in  any 
cause  which  he  knew  to  be  unjust.  From  1757  till  his 
death  he  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College ;  and  for  many 
years  a  member  and  Trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Princeton.  An  estimate  of  the  high  tone  of  his  Chris 
tian  character  can  be  formed  by  reading  the  following 
extract  from  his  last  Will :  "  As  my  children  will  have  fre 
quent  occasion  of  perusing  this  instrument,  and  may 
probably  be  peculiarly  impressed  with  the  last  words 
of  their  father,  I  think  proper  here,  not  only  to  sub 
scribe  to  the  entire  belief  of  the  great  leading  doc 
trines  of  the  Christian  religion,  such  as  the  being  of  a 
God,  the  universal  defection  and  depravity  of  human  na 
ture,  the  divinity  of  the  Person,  and  completeness  of  the 

[3] 


1 748. 

redemption  purchased  by  the  blessed  Saviour,  the  neces 
sity  of  the  divine  Spirit,  of  divine  faith  accompanied  with 
an  habitual  virtuous  life,  and  the  universality  of  divine 
Providence  ;  but  also  in  the  bowels  of  a  father's  affection 
to  charge  and  exhort  them  to  remember  that  *  the  fear 
of  God  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom.' ' 

Mr.  Stockton  was  a  man  of  great  coolness  and  courage. 
His  bodily  powers,  both  in  relation  to  strength  and  agil 
ity,  were  of  a  very  superior  grade,  and  he  was  highly  ac 
complished  in  all  the  manly  exercises  peculiar  to  the 
period  in  which  he  lived  ;  his  skill  as  a  horseman  and 
swordsman  was  peculiarly  great.  In  person  he  was  tall 
and  commanding,  approaching  nearly  to  six  feet  in 
height. 

What  a  noble  example  to  lead  the  van  and  stimulate 
the  energies  of  all  future  graduates !  Mr.  Stockton  died 
in  Princeton,  February  28,  1781. 

Daniel  Thane  came  to  this  country  from  Scotland. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and 
settled  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Connecti 
cut  Farms,  New  Jersey,  August  29, 1750.  In  1754,  he  was 
sent  by  the  Synod  on  a  three  months'  tour  to  Virginia 
and  the  Carolinas,  where  he  did  good  service  preaching 
under  the  forest  trees.  In  1757,  he  was  dismissed  from  his 
charge  in  New  Jersey,  and  removed  to  Delaware,  where 
he  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  at  New 
Castle  and  Christina  Bridge.  In  1763,  he  left  his  charge 
in  an  irregular  manner.  His  name  disappears  from  the 
roll  of  Synod  after  1763.  He  is  said  to  have  died  in  1764. 


1749- 

John  Brown  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1728.  He  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  and  sent  as  a 
missionary  to  the  Valley  of  Virginia.  In  1753,  he  was 
called  to  the  united  Churches  of  Timber  Ridge  and 
New  Providence,  Virginia.  This  call  he  accepted.  In 
addition  to  his  pastoral  work,  he  established  a  grammar 
school  near  his  residence,  which  afterwards  was  merged 
in  Liberty  Hall,  and  finally  grew  into  Washington  Col 
lege.  It  was  in  this  congregation  that  the  Alexander 
family  resided.  In  1796,  Mr.  Brown,  weighed  down  un 
der  the  infirmities  of  age,  resigned  his  charge,  and  soon 
after  followed  his  children  to  Kentucky.  The  following 
is  the  inscription  on  his  tomb  at  Frankfort :  "  The  tomb 
of  the  Rev.  John  Brown,  who,  after  graduating  at  Nas 
sau  Hall,  devoted  himself  to  the  ministry,  and  settled  at 
New  Providence,  Rockbridge  County,  Virginia.  At  that 
place  he  was  stated  pastor  forty-four  years.  In  the  de 
cline  of  life  he  removed  to  this  county,  to  spend  the  feeble 
remainder  of  his  days  with  his  children.  He  died  in  the 
75th  year  of  his  age,  A.  D.  1803."  The  sons  of  Mr.  Brown 
all  became  distinguished  men.  One  wras  a  United  States 
Senator  from  Kentucky  ;  another  was  a  Senator  from 
Louisiana  and  Minister  to  France,  and  the  third  became 
an  eminent  physician  and  Professor  in  Transylvania  Uni 
versity. 

William  Burnet  was  the  son  of  Ichabod  Burnet, 
a  distinguished  physician  of  Elizabethtovvn,  New  Jersey. 
After  graduating,  he  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Staats, 
of  New  York  ;  but  the  trouble  with  the  mother-country 
coming  on,  he  relinquished  a  lucrative  practice,  and  en- 

[5] 


1749- 

tered  actively  into  the  political  movements  of  the  day. 
Dr.  Burnet  was  Chairman  of  the  "  Committee  of  Public 
Safety"  at  Newark,  which  met  daily.  In  1775,  he  was 
superintendent  of  a  military  hospital,  established  on  his 
own  responsibility,  in  Newark.  In  the  winter  of  1776, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress ; 
but  early  in  the  session  Congress  divided  the  thirteen 
States  into  three  military  districts,  and  Dr.  Burnet  was 
appointed  Physician  and  Surgeon-General  of  the  Eastern 
District ;  he  accordingly  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress, 
and  entered  upon  his  office,  the  arduous  duties  of  which 
he  continued  to  discharge  till  the  close  of  the  war,  in 
1783.  At  one  time  Dr.  Burnet  was  stationed  at  West 
Point,  and  on  a  certain  occasion,  he  was  dining  with  a 
party  of  gentlemen  at  the  house  of  Gen.  Arnold,*  when 
the  officer  of  the  day  entered,  and  reported  that  a  spy 
had  been  taken  below,  who  called  himself  John  Ander 
son.  It  was  remarked  by  the  persons  who  were  at  the 
table,  that  this  intelligence,  interesting  to  the  general  as 
it  must  have  been,  produced  no  visible  change  in  his 
countenance  or  behavior — that  he  continued  in  his  seat 
for  some  minutes,  conversing  as  before — after  which  he 
arose,  saying  to  his  guests,  that  business  required  him  to 
be  absent  for  a  short  time,  and  desiring  them  to  remain 
and  enjoy  themselves  till  his  return.  The  next  intelli 
gence  they  had  of  him  was,  that  he  was  in  his  barge, 
moving  rapidly  to  a  British  ship  of  war,  the  Vulture, 
which  was  lying  at  anchor  a  short  distance  below  the 
Point. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Burnet  returned  to  his 
family,  and  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Soon 
after  he  was  appointed  presiding  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  by  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  and 
was  also  elected  President  of  the  State  Medical  Society. 
Being  a  fine  classical  scholar,  on  taking  the  chair,  he  read 
an  elaborate  essay  in  Latin,  on  the  proper  use  of  the  lan 
cet  in  pleuritic  cases.  Dr.  Burnet  died  October  7,  1791. 

*  This  is  on  authority  of  his  son,  the  Hon.  Judge  Jacob  Burnet  of  Ohio. 

[6] 


1749- 

John  Hogg  (or  Hoge)  was  the  son  of  William  Hoge, 
••'an  exile  for  Christ's  sake"  from  Scotland.  He  was  li 
censed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  October 
10,  1753.  In  1755,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle,  and  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  Churches 
of  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek,  Virginia.  In  1760,  we 
find  him  the  pastor  of  Tuscarora,  Opecquon  and  Back 
Creek  Churches.  About  1762,  Mr.  Hoge,  on  account  of 
the  remissness  of  his  people  in  giving  him  a  support,  re 
signed  his  charge,  and  removed  to  Pennsylvania. 

Thomas  Kennedy.  I  can  learn  nothing  of  Mr. 
Kennedy.  As  accurate  a  historian  as  Richard  Webster 
has  confounded  him  with  Samuel  Kennedy,  who  was  li 
censed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  installed 
at  Baskingridge,  N.  J.,  in  1 75 1 .  But  this  Samuel  Kennedy 
was  educated  at  Edinburgh,  according  to  an  extended 
memoir  of  him  by  Rev.  Isaac  V.  Brown,  appended  to  his 
Life  of  Robert  Finley,  and  published  in  1819.  This  must 
be  a  different  man  from  our  graduate,  who  was  probably 
not  a  clergyman. 

John  Moffat,  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1751,  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Wallkill,  Orange 
Co.,  New  York.  In  1795,  he  joined  the  Associate  Church. 
In  1773,  he  was  residing  in  Delaware,  but  returned  and 
engaged  in  teaching  in  Litttle  Britain,  Orange  County, 
New  York.  De  Witt  Clinton  was  one  of  his  pupils.  He 
died  April  22,  1788. 

John  Todd  is  said  to  have  been  a  weaver  before  he 
joined  college.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  New  Brunswick,  November  13,  1750.  Imme 
diately  after  his  licensure  he  went  to  Virginia,  and  be 
came  an  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies  in  Provi 
dence  Church.  After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Davies  to 
Princeton,  Mr.  Todd  became  the  leading  Presbyterian 

[7] 


1749- 

preacher  in  that  region.  During-  the  Revolution,  he  was 
a  staunch  Whig.  While  pastor  in  Virginia  he  taught  a 
classical  school,  and  the  Rev.  James  Waddel,  who  was  at 
that  time  reading  divinity  with  Mr.  Davies,  assisted  him 
in  teaching.  Col.  Gordon,  of  Lancaster  County,  on  hear 
ing  him  preach,  said  :  "  I  never  heard  a  sermon,  but  one 
I  heard  from  Mr.  Davies,  that  I  heard  with  more  attention 
and  delight.  Oh,  if  the  Lord  would  be  pleased  to  send 
us  a  minister  of  as  much  piety  as  Mr.  Todd  !"  He  died 
suddenly,  July  27,  1793. 

Eleazer  Whittlesey,  when  he  came  to  college, 
brought  a  letter  of  introduction  from  Dr.  Bellamy  to 
President  Burr,  from  which  we  judge  that  he  was  a  na 
tive  of  Connecticut.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Castle  in  1750,  and  labored  faithfully  in  Hartford 
County,  Maryland,  and  was  the  means  of  establishing  a 
number  of  congregations.  He  was  a  man  tenderly  loved 
for  his  zeal  and  integrity.  His  health  was  infirm,  and  he 
was  subject  to  seasons  of  melancholy.  Mr.  Whittlesey 
died  December  21,  1751.  There  is  no  record  of  his  ordi 
nation. 

[8] 


Hugh  Bay  became  a  physician  and  practiced  at 
Herberts  Cross  Roads,  Hartford  County,  Maryland.  He 
was  a  brother  of  Rev.  Andrew  Bay,  one  of  the  early 
Presbyterian  ministers  in  this  country,  at  one  time  set 
tled  in  Albany.  I  know  nothing  further  of  Dr.  Bay's 
history. 

Alexander  Clinton,  the  eldest  son  of  Charles  Clin 
ton,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  of  Clintons  in  New  York, 
became  a  physician,  and  practiced  in  the  city  of  New 
York. 

Daniel  Farrand,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  after 
spending  two  years  at  Yale,  transferred  his  relation  to 
Nassau  Hall.  In  1752  he  was  ordained  and  settled  over 
a  Congregational  Church  at  South  Canaan,  Connecticut, 
where  he  continued  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties 
till  near  the  close  of  life.  He  died  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1803,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fifty-first 
of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Farrand  was  of  a  medium  stature,  with  a  large 
head,  and  a  heavy  clumsily-formed  body ;  his  features  were 
uncommonly  large,  and  his  countenance  altogether  indi 
cative,  not  of  refinement,  but  of  much  mental  strength 
and  solidity.  His  scholarship,  especially  in  classical 
learning,  was  very  great.  In  religious  matters  he  was 
always  grave  and  dignified,  and  yet  was  not  wanting  in 
wit.  On  one  occasion,  at  a  meeting  of  ministers,  a  cer 
tain  Dr.  W.  had  set  up  a  vigorous  defense  of  the  ideal 
system  of  Bishop  Berkeley.  The  next  morning  when  they 
were  about  separating  for  their  respective  homes,  the 
horse  of  Dr.  W.  was  missing,  under  such  circumstances 

[9] 


1750. 

as  to  induce  the  apprehension  that  he  had  been  stolen ; 
and  it  was  proposed  by  some  one  that  he  should  adver 
tise  him ;  upon  which  Mr.  Farrand,  with  much  apparent 
gravity,  asked  the  Doctor  whether  he  had  a  perfect  idea 
of  his  horse, — such  as  would  enable  him  to  give  a  perfect 
idea  of  him.  He  replied  that  he  had.  "  Well,  then,"  said 
Parson  Farrand,  "  why  don't  you  fit  your  saddle  and  bri 
dle  on  it  and  ride  home.  You  surely  can  want  no  better 
mode  of  travelling." 

It  was  a  perilous  matter  to  attempt  to  extort  a  compli 
ment  from  Mr.  Farrand.  He  was  travelling  on  horse 
back  in  a  part  of  the  country  where  he  was  an  entire 
stranger.  Noticing  a  considerable  gathering  at  a  private 
house,  he  concluded  that  it  was  some  religious  meeting, 
and  being  willing  to  rest  himself  and  his  horse,  he  dis 
mounted  and  went  in,  and  remained  till  the  close  of  the 
service.  The  man  who  officiated  turned  out  to  be  a  very 
illiterate,  self-conceited  preacher.  He  took  for  his  text 
the  account  given  by  the  Evangelist  of  the  evil  spirits 
entering  into  the  herd  of  swine.  Immediately  on  the 
close  of  the  service,  Mr.  Farrand  left  the  house  and  pro 
ceeded  on  his  journey ;  but  he  had  not  gone  far  before 
the  preacher,  who  had  eyed  him  during  the  lecture,  and 
happened  to  be  going  the  same  road,  overtook  him.  He 
remarked  to  him  directly  that  he  had  seen  him  at  the 
lecture  and  presumed  from  his  appearance  that  he  was  a 
clergyman.  Mr.  Farrand  having  replied  that  he  was,  the 
preacher  very  unceremoniously  requested  his  opinion  of 
the  sermon.  Mr.  Farrand  declined  expressing  his  opin 
ion,  remarking  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  not  in  the 
habit  of  dealing  in  compliments.  This  increased  the 
preacher's  anxiety  to  hear  his  opinion,  and  he  repeated  his 
request  with  still  greater  energy.  "  Well,"  said  Mr.  Far 
rand,  "  if  you  insist  on  hearing  my  opinion,  I  must  say  I 
think  you  made  worse  work  with  the  Scriptures  than  the 
devil  did  with  the  swine." 

Mr.  Farrand  was  admitted  to  an  ad  eundem  Master's 
degree  at  Yale  in  1777. 

[10] 


Jacobus  Freling'huysen  was  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
Theodorus  Jacobus  Frelinghuysen.  He  died  at  sea,  on 
his  return  from  Holland,  in  1754,  whither  he  had  gone  for 
ordination.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  pastor  elect 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Kinderhook,  New 
York. 

[11] 


1751- 

Samuel  Clark  studied  theology,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  Second  Congregational  Church 
at  Farmington  (now  Kensington),  Connecticut,  in  July, 
1756.  Mr.  Clark  appeared  well  in  the  pulpit ;  and  the 
epitaph  on  his  tombstone  mentions  among  other  estima 
ble  qualities  of  the  man,  that  he  was,  "  in  the  gift  of 
preaching,  excellent,  laborious  and  pathetic."  Mr.  Clark 
continued  in  his  charge  until  his  death,  November,  1775. 

He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  Yale,  in 
I757- 

Alexander  Gordon  was  a  tutor  in  the  college  from 
the  time  of  his  graduation  until  1754,  in  which  year  he  died. 

Robert  Henry  was  born  in  Scotland.  After  leaving 
college  he  studied  theology,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  New  York.  In  1752,  he  was  sent  by  the  Synod 
to  Virginia,  at  the  request  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies. 
In  1753,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Cas 
tle,  and  on  the  4th  of  June,  1755,  was  installed  as  pastor 
of  Cub  Creek,  in  Charlotte  County,  Virginia,  and  Bri- 
ary,  in  Prince  Edward  County,  both  then  in  Lunenburg 
County.  After  his  installation,  Mr.  Davies  and  Mr.  Todd 
preached  five  days  in  his  congregation,  and  many  were 
awakened.  The  success  of  Mr.  Henry  was  most  remark 
able.  He  was  a  man  of  eccentric  manners,  but  most  de 
votedly  pious.  He  was  not  in  the  habit  of  reading  his 
sermons  or  even  of  writing.  Short  notes  of  preparation 
were  all  he  used,  and  not  always  those.  It  is  said  of 
him,  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  he  thought  he  ought 
to  prepare  himself  with  greater  care  than  usual,  and 


having  written  a  sermon,  he  commenced  reading  from 
a  small  manuscript.  A  gust  of  wind  suddenly  swept 
the  paper  from  the  Bible.  He  watched  its  progress  as 
it  sailed  along  to  an  old  elder's  seat.  The  old  gentleman 
had  been  listening  seriously,  and  as  the  paper  fell  at  his 
side,  he  deliberately  put  his  foot  upon  it.  Mr.  Henry 
waited  for  him  to  bring  it  back  to  him.  The  old  gentle 
man  looked  up  as  if  nothing  had  happened  ;  and  Mr. 
Henry  finished  his  sermon  in  the  best  way  he  could.  It 
was  the  end  of  his  written  preparation  to  preach.  There 
is  nothing  left  as  the  production  of  his  pen.  Dr.  Archi 
bald  Alexander  was  the  second  successor  of  Mr.  Henry 
in  his  charge.  Mr.  Henry  was  called  to  the  Steel  Creek 
Church  in  North  Carolina,  in  1766,  but  never  entered 
upon  the  charge,  dying  May  8,  1767. 

Samuel  McClintock,  after  graduating,  studied  the 
ology,  and  was  ordained,  and  settled  as  pastor  over  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Greenland,  New  Hampshire, 
in  1757.  President  Burr  had  offered  him  a  tutorship  in 
the  college,  which  he  declined.  During  the  Revolution 
he  was  a  strong  Whig,  and  repeatedly  acted  as  chaplain 
in  the  army,  and  his  patriotic  exhortations  animated  the 
soldiers  in  the  conflict.  Five  of  his  sons  were  in  the 
American  army. 

In  1791,  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  Yale.  His  ministry  lasted  forty- 
eight  years,  during  which  period  the  last  Sunday  of  his 
life  was  the  only  one  in  which  he  was  disabled  for  the 
performance  of  his  usual  public  duties.  He  died  in 
1804. 

Dr.  McClintock  was  regarded  among  the  churches  in 
his  neighborhood  as  pre-eminent  for  practical  wisdom, 
and  many  cases  of  casuistry  were  referred  to  him  as  an 
umpire. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  his  publications  : 

A  Sermon  on  the  Justice  of  God  in  the  Mortality  of  Man.     1759. 


'751- 

A  Sermon  entitled,  "  The  Artifice  of  Deceivers  detected,  and  Christians 
warned  against  them."  1770. 

Herodias,  or  Cruelty  and  Revenge.  The  Effects  of  Unlawful  Pleasure. 
A  Sermon.  1772. 

A  Sermon  at  the  Commencement  of  the  New  Constitution  of  New  Hamp 
shire.  1784. 

An  Epistolary  Correspondence  with  Rev.  John  C.  Ogden.     1791. 

A  Sermon  entitled,  "  The  Choice,"  occasioned  by  the  drought,  the  fever, 
and  the  prospect  of  war.  1798. 

An  Oration  Commemorative  of  Washington.     1800. 

Henry  Martin  received  his  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  In  1752,  he  supplied  the 
pulpits  of  Maidenhead  and  Hopewell,  in  New  Jersey,  and 
on  the  Qth  of  April,  1753,  he  was  ordained,  and  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  in  Newtown  and 
Salisbury,  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  died  about 
1763. 

Benjamin  Youngs  Prime  was  the  son  of  the  Rev. 

Ebenezer  Prime,  of  Long  Island.  After  graduating,  he 
studied  medicine  and  pursued  the  practice  for  several 
years.  In  1756  he  was  appointed  tutor  in  the  College, 
which  position  he  held  for  about  a  year.  In  1762  he  visi 
ted  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  his  medical  stud 
ies  to  more  advantage ;  he  remained  there  for  two  or 
three  years,  and  took  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine 
at  the  University  of  Leyden.  Dr.  Prime  became  a  highly 
accomplished  scholar,  eminent  for  his  mathematical,  phi 
losophical  and  classical  attainments.  He  was  in  the  habit 
of  writing  with  great  facility  both  prose  and  poetry  in 
the  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin,  French  and  Spanish  lan 
guages  ;  and  in  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  strug 
gle,  his  patriotic  and  popular  songs  spread  like  wild-fire 
over  the  land,  and  helped  to  kindle  the  sparks  of  liberty 
into  a  flame. 

After  his  return  from  Europe  in  1764,  he  became  a 
practitioner  of  medicine  and  surgery  in  the  city  of  New 
York;  but  after  a  few  years,  his  father  becoming  infirm, 
he  returned  to  Huntington,  Long  Island,  and  resumed 

[-4] 


I/51- 

his  residence  with  his  father,  and  occupied  his  time  in 
the  pursuit  of  elegant  letters.  Dr.  Prime  was  the  grand 
father  of  the  Drs.  Prime  of  the  New  York  Observer.  He 
died  October  31,  1791. 

In  1764  an  8vo  pamphlet  of  94  pages  was  published  in  London,  under 
the  following  title  :  "  The  Patriot  Muse,  or  Poems  on  some  of  the  Principal 
Events  of  the  Late  War  ;  together  with  a  Poem  on  the  Peace.  Vincit  amor 
patriae.  By  an  American  gentleman."  The  author  was  Dr.  Prime.  In 
1791  he  published  "Columbia's  Glory,  or  British  Pride  Humbled  ;  a  Poem 
on  the  American  Revolution  ;  some  part  of  it  being  a  Parody  on  an  Ode 
entitled,  Britain's  Glory,  or  Gallic  Pride  Humbled,  composed"  on  the  cap 
ture  of  Quebec,  1759." 

Robert  Ross  became  a  Congregational  minister,  and 
in  November,  1753,  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  First  Church  in  Bridgeport,  Connecticut.  Mr.  Ross 
is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  great  dignity,  and  had  a 
commanding  influence  over  his  people.  He  wore  the 
ancient  dress  of  cock-hat,  wig  and  small  clothes.  He 
remained  in  this  charge  until  his  death,  in  August, 
1799. 

Nathaniel  Scudder  belonged  to  an  old  family  in 
Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey.  After  leaving  college, 
he  studied  medicine  and  practiced  in  his  native  county 
until  the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  when  he  entered 
actively  into  public  life.  He  was  Colonel  of  the  Battal 
ion  of  the  Monmouth  Militia  ;  and  from  1777  to  1779  rep 
resented  New  Jersey  in  the  Continental  Congress.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Colonel 
Scudder  was  an  earnest  Christian,  and  was  an  Elder  in 
Mr.  Tennent's  Church  at  Freehold.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  Trustee  of  the  College. 

Colonel  Scudder  was  the  grandfather  of  the  distin 
guished  missionary,  Rev.  John  Scudder,  M.  D.  He  was 
killed  in  a  skirmish  against  the  "  Refugees"  at  Black 
Point,  Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey,  in  1781.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  Dr.  Scudder  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Col 
lege. 

[iSl 


1 751- 

David  Thurstoii  became  the  pastor  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church  in  Medway,  Massachusetts,  on  the 
23d  of  June,  1752.  In  consequence  of  ill  health  and  diffi 
culties  in  the  congregation,  on  the  22d  of  February,  1769, 
he  resigned  ;  and  in  the  spring  of  1772,  he  removed  to 
Oxford,  Massachusetts,  where  he  purchased  and  culti 
vated  a  farm. 

[16] 


1752. 

George  Duffield,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  acted  as 
tutor  in  the  College  from  1754  to  1756.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  March  1 1 , 1 756, 
and  in  1759  he  was  settled  over  a  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  In  1766,  by  order  of  the  Synod, 
in  company  with  Rev.  Charles  Beatty,  he  made  a  mis 
sionary  tour  through  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Vir 
ginia.  Soon  after  his  return  he  was  called  to  the  Third 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Duffield  was  a  strong  Whig,  and  was  at  one  time, 
in  connection  with  Bishop  White,  Chaplain  of  the  Conti 
nental  Congress.  During  the  dark  and  almost  hopeless 
period  of  the  Revolution,  he  acted  as  chaplain  in  the  re 
treat  of  the  army  through  New  Jersey,  and  was  at  the 
battle  of  Princeton. 

He  remained  pastor  of  the  Third  Church  in  Philadel 
phia  until  the  day  of  his  death,  February  2,  1790.  The 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  Yale  in  1785. 

Dr.  Duffield  was  an  eminently  devoted  Christian  and 
a  most  faithful  minister.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
organization  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  after  the  Revo 
lution,  and  was  the  first  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General 
Assembly.  He  was  for  thirty  years  a  Trustee  of  the 
College. 

Dr.  Duffield  published  an  account  of  his  tour  with  Dr.  Beatty,  and  a 
Thanksgiving  Sermon  on  the  Restoration  of  Peace,  1783. 

Jeremiah  Halsey  held  the  office  of  tutor  in  the  col 
lege  from  1757  to  1767,  longer  than  any  other  individual. 


In  1766,  the  Trustees  voted  a  sum  of  money  to  him,  "  in 
consideration  of  his  extraordinary  and  faithful  services." 
On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Halsey  from  the  tutorship,  the 
Trustees  gave  him  a  certificate  with  the  corporation 
seal  attached,  certifying  Ids  faithful  services,  and  recom 
mending  him  as  "  a  gentleman  of  genius,  learning  and 
real  merit."  Dr.  Green  testifies  that  Mr.  Halsey  was  one 
of  the  best  scholars  that  was  ever  educated  in  the  insti 
tution.  In  1767,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  and  sent  on  a  missionary  tour  to  the 
South  ;  afterwards  was  settled  as  a  pastor,  but  the  place 
of  his  location  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover.  He  was 
for  eleven  years  a  Trustee  of  the  College.  Mr.  Halsey 
died  in  1780. 

Samuel  !Li  verm  ore,  descended  from  one  of  the  an 
cient  New  England  families,  was  born  at  Waltham,  Mas 
sachusetts,  near  Boston,  in  May,  1732.  There  is  a  diary 
of  Mr.  Livermore,  published  in  Putnam  s  Magazine,  for 
June,  1857,  written  on  the  eve  of  his  journey  to  college. 
It  is  interesting  to  know  what  was  the  outfit  of  aNNew 
England  boy  going  to  a  distant  college,  and  here  we  have 
it.  He  sailed  from  Boston  in  the  sloop  Lydia,  September 
10,  1751.  For  this  voyage  he  laid  in,  according  to  his 
diary, 

5  quarts  of  West  Ind.  rum  .  .  .  .    £i   ijs.  6rf. 

i  Ib.  of  tea  a  48^.    .  .  .  .  .                       12     o 

Canister     .             .  .  .  .  .  .            60 

1  doz.  fowls            .  .  .  .  .  .       2  10    o 

2  pounds  loaf  sugar  a  8.r.  .  .  .  .160 
i  doz.  and  8  lemons  .  .  .  .  .190 

3  pounds  butter  .  .  .  .  .120 
Box            .  .....50 

His  stock  of  clothes  might  well  suit  a  collegian  of  the 
present  day ;  it  consisted  of  two  close  coats,  one  great 
coat,  two  jackets,  thirteen  shirts,  seven  pairs  of  stockings, 
six  caps,  four  cravats,  three  handkerchiefs,  one  pair  of 
breeches. 

[18] 


1752. 

His  library  was  not  as  complete  as  his  wardrobe  ;  his 
books  were,  Bible,  Latin  and  Greek  Testaments,  and 
Grammar,  Latin  Dictionary  and  Lexicon,  Ward's  Intro 
duction  to  Mathematics,  Gordon's  Geography,  Virgil  and 
Tully.  Mr.  Livermore  carried  letters  of  introduction  to 
Governor  Belcher  and  President  Burr,  giving  him  the 
highest  character  for  sobriety  and  studiousness. 

All  such  facts  are  valuable  when  we  consider  the  emi 
nence  to  which  this  young  man  afterwards  attained. 

On  returning  to  New  England,  after  due  preparation, 
he  entered  upon  tlie  practice  of  the  law.  Before  the 
Revolution,  he  was  Judge  Advocate  of  the  Admiralty 
Court.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress 
from  1780  to  1783,  and  from  1786  to  1787;  and  from  1782 
to  1790  he  was  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court ;  and  from 
1793  to  1801  he  was  a  member  of  the  United  States 
Senate  from  New  Hampshire,  after  which  he  was  Chief 
Justice  of  New  Hampshire.  Judge  Livermore  was  one 
of  the  first  trustees  of  Dartmouth  College.  He  died  in 
May,  1803. 

Cornelius  Low  was  probably  a  son  of  Cornelius 
Low,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey.  The  Low  family  did  not 
sympathize  with  the  country  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  now  are  almost  forgotten,  though  prominent  formerly. 
What  became  of  Mr.  Low  I  have  no  means  of  discovering. 

Nathaniel  Whitaker  prepared  for  the  ministry 
and  was  ordained  and  settled  over  a  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  State  of  New  York  about  1753.  In  1759  he  be 
came  pastor  of  a  Church  near  Norwich,  Connecticut.  In 
1766  he  was  sent  to  Great  Britain  with  the  Rev.  Samson 
Occom,  a  Mohegan  Indian,  to  solicit  funds  for  a  school 
for  the  Indians  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut.  Lady  Hunting 
don,  Romaine  and  Venn  warmly  advocated  his  cause. 
While  abroad  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  from  the  University  of  St.  Andrews.  After 
eighteen  months'  absence  he  returned,  having  been  per- 

[  19] 


1752. 

fectly  successful  in  his  mission.  And  thus  he  prepared 
the  way  for  the  founding  of  Dartmouth  College,  which 
grew  out  of  this  school. 

While  in  England  he  published  several  sermons  on 
"  Reconciliation  to  God." 

In  July,  1769,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church  of  Salem,  Massachusetts,  but  in 
1773  he  withdrew  and  formed  a  Presbyterian  Church. 
At  the  opening  of  the  war  Mr.  Whitaker  espoused  warm 
ly  the  cause  of  Independence,  and  engaged  largely  in 
the  manufacture  of  saltpetre  for  the  army.  On  the  occa 
sion  of  the  Boston  Massacre  in  1771,  he  preached  a  ser 
mon  on  the  "  Fatal  Tragedy  in  King  Street;"  and  on  the 
proclamation  of  Independence,  another  entitled  "  An  An 
tidote  to  Toryism."  After  the  peace  he  reprinted  the 
latter  with  another,  "  On  the  Reward  of  Toryism." 

Being  too  strong  a  Presbyterian  for  his  neighbors,  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  Massachusetts,  and  removed  to 
Virginia,  where  he  died  in  poverty  near  Hampton,  Janu 
ary  26,  1795,  aged  65. 

John  Wright.  Jonathan  Edwards  writes  to  Rev. 
John  Erskine,  of  Scotland,  under  date  of  July  7,  1752, 
"  Mr.  John  Wright,  a  member  of  New  Jersey  College, 
who  is  to  take  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  the  next 
September,  is  now  at  my  house.  He  was  born  in  Scot 
land  ;  has  lived  in  Virginia,  and  is  a  friend  and  acquaint 
ance  of  Mr.  Davies ;  and  has  a  great  interest  in  the  es 
teem  of  the  religious  people  of  Virginia,  and  is  peculiarly 
esteemed  by  President  Burr;  has  been  admitted  to  spe 
cial  intimacy  with  him  ;  and  is  a  person  of  very  good 
character  for  his  understanding,  prudence  and  piety." 

Mr.  Wright  was  licensed  the  year  after  his  graduation, 
and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  In  1755 
he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Cumberland,  Virginia.  His  work  was  specially  among 
the  negroes,  many  of  whom  were  converted  under  his 
ministry. 

[20] 


It  is  melancholy  to  record  that  a  man  of  such  promise 
should  fall.  In  the  weakness  of  body,  and  the  melancholy 
of  which  he  complains  in  one  of  his  letters,  he  sought 
relief  in  stimulants.  His  morning  of  expectation  went 
down  in  clouds. 

[21] 


1753- 

Daniel  Isaac  Brown  was  probably  the  son  of  Rev. 

Isaac  Brown,  the  loyalist,  who  left  Trinity  Church  in 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  during  or  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Revolution,  because  he  "  could  not  pray  for  the 
king  in  peace  and  quietness  and  undisturbed." 

The  son  became  a  physician,  and  in  1758  was  admitted 
to  a  Master's  degree  at  King's  College,  New  York.  Both 
father  and  son  left  New  York  for  Nova  Scotia,  with  many 
others,  about  1783. 

Israel  Caiifield  was  probably  the  son  of  Israel  Can- 
field  of  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  who  was  a  friend 
and  companion  of  good  men,  as  in  his  will  he  gives  £10 
to  the  Presbyterian  ministry  or  fund.  The  son  died  the 
year  after  his  graduation,  August  2,  1754,  aged  26 

John  Harris  came  from  Wales,  while  a  child,  with 
his  father's  family,  who  settled  in  Maryland.  In  1754  he 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle ;  and  in 
1756  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Indian 
River  Church,  in  Delaware.  This  charge  he  resigned  in 
1759,  and  removed  to  the  South  ;  and  in  1772  we  find  him 
pastor  of  Long  Cane  and  two  other  Churches  in  South 
Carolina,  where  he  remained  until  1779,  when  forced  by 
declining  health,  he  resigned  his  charge. 

Mr.  Harris  was  acknowledged  by  all  to  have  been  a 
pious,  judicious  and  exemplary  minister  of  the  Gospel. 
Bold,  enthusiastic  and  independent,  he  was  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  stirring  times  in  which  he  lived.  It  was  his 
boast  that  every  man  in  his  congregation  was  a  Whig. 
Such  a  man  was  especially  obnoxious  to  the  Tories,  and 


'753- 

lie  had  many  narrow  escapes.  It  is  asserted  that  he  often 
preached  with  his  gun  in  the  pulpit  and  his  ammuni 
tion  suspended  from  his  neck,  after  the  fashion  of  the 
times. 

An  anecdote  is  told  of  him  evincing  his  determination 
and  his  insight  into  character.  Colonel  A — ,  a  worthy 
man,  but  of  a  pliant  temper,  lived  far  down  on  the  Savan 
nah  river,  in  a  region  much  subject  to  Tory  aggressions. 
He  was  a  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Harris,  and  a  member 
oi  one  of  his  congregations,  but  having  held  a  commis 
sion  under  the  royal  government,  it  was  feared  he  would 
compromise  his  principles  for  British  protection.  The 
suspicion  no  sooner  entered  the  mind  of  his  friend  Harris, 
than  he  mounted  his  horse,  and  taking  his  saddle-bags 
for  a  long  visit,  determined  not  to  leave  him  till  he  took 
a  decided  stand  on  the  right  side.  He  stayed  with  him 
several  days,  and  on  his  return,  reported  that  "  all  is 
right."  Mr.  Harris  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  South  Carolina.  He  died  about 
1790. 

Kobert  Harris,  after  graduating,  became  a  physi 
cian  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the 
College  in  1761,  at  the  same  meeting  at  which  Dr.  Finley 
was  chosen  President,  and  continued  in  that  office  until 
his  death  in  1815  ;  having  been  a  trustee  for  fifty-four 
years.  For  a  large  part  of  the  time,  Dr.  Harris  was  the 
oldest  trustee  in  the  "  Board."  He  was  present  at  the 
meeting  in  August,  1768,  when  Dr.  Witherspoon  took 
the  oath  of  office  as  President  of  the  College ;  and  at  the 
meeting  in  May,  1795,  at  which  Dr.  Smith  was  chosen 
President,  Dr.  Harris  was  present,  and  presided  at  the 
opening  of  the  session  of  the  Board. 

John  Houston  became  a  Congregational  minister, 
and  settled  at  Bedford,  New  Hampshire,  September  28, 
1757,  and  was  dismissed  from  his  charge  in  1778.  He 
died  February  4,  1798. 


»753- 

Hugh  McAclen  was  born  of  an  humble  but  pious 
parentage,  in  Pennsylvania.  After  graduating,  he  stud 
ied  theology  with  the  Rev.  John  Blair,  and  was  licensed 
by  New  Castle  Presbytery  in  1755.  He  was  immediately 
sent  on  a  missionary  tour  through  the  South.  On  his 
journey  through  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  he  witnessed 
the  greatest  distress  caused  by  a  severe  drought,  and  the 
alarm  created  by  Braddock's  defeat.  On  reaching  Caro 
lina  he  entered  upon  his  missionary  work  with  zeal  and 
ardour.  Returning  to  the  North,  he  was  ordained  by  the 
New  Castle  Presbytery,  in  1757,  and  became  pastor,  soon 
after,  of  the  congregations  in  Duplin  and  New  Hanover, 
North  Carolina.  Here  he  remained  about  ten  years,  when, 
believing  that  the  influence  of  the  climate  upon  his  health 
was  too  unfavorable  to  justify  his  remaining  longer  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  State,  he  removed  to  Caswell  Coun 
ty,  and  there  finished  his  days.  He  died  January  20, 
1781.  Mr.  McAden  left  a  manuscript  journal  extending 
through  a  number  of  years.  This  journal  shows  with 
what  untiring  zeal  these  early  missionaries  prosecuted 
their  work.  The  journal  has  been  preserved  in  "  Foote's 
Sketches  of  North  Carolina."  Mr.  McAden  was  syste 
matic  in  study,  in  visiting  and  in  labour,  and  faithfully  ful 
filled  his  ministry.  He  was  truly  one  of  the  chief  found 
ers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Southern  States. 

John  McKesson  sprang  from  an  old  Scotch  family, 
who  moved  to  Antrim,  in  Ireland,  in  1665.  John  was 
the  son  of  Alexander  McKesson,  and  was  born  at  Fagg's 
Manor,  Pennsylvania,  March  20,  1734.  After  graduat 
ing,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
Throughout  the  Revolution  Mr.  McKesson  was  Clerk  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York.  He  died  of  yel 
low  fever,  in  a  house  which  stood  on  the  spot  where  the 
Herald  office  now  stands,  September  7,  1798.  Mr.  Mc 
Kesson  was  a  bachelor,  and  left  a  large  fortune  for  the 
times.  He  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  King 
College,  New  York,  in  1758. 

EH] 


J753- 

Nathaniel  Potter  became  a  minister,  and  was  set 
tled  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Brook- 
lyne,  Massachusetts,  in  1755.  He  left  this  charge  in  1759, 
and  died  in  1768.  Harvard  admitted  him  to  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts  in  1758. 

Mr.  Potter  published  a  Discourse  in  1758,  entitled,  "New  Year's  Gift." 

Nathaniel  Sherman,  a  brother  of  the  celebrated 
Roger  Sherman,  of  Connecticut,  was  ordained  and  set 
tled  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Bed 
ford,  Massachusetts,  February  18,  1756.  This  charge  he 
resigned  December  17,  1767.  In  May,  1769,  he  was  in 
stalled  as  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Mount  Carmel,  Con 
necticut ;  where,  having  preached  until  August,  1772,  he 
retired  to  East  Windsor,  Connecticut,  and  there  died 
July  1 8,  1797- 

Joseph  Shippen.  There  is  an  interesting  letter  of 
Mr.  Shippen  extant,  written  while  he  was  a  junior  in  col 
lege,  in  which  he  informs  his  father  of  President  Burr's 
marriage.  He  writes  :  "  In  the  latter  end  of  May,  he 
[Mr.  Burr]  took  a  journey  into  New  England,  and  dur 
ing  his  absence,  he  made  a  visit  of  but  three  days  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Edwards'  daughter,  at  Stockbridge  ;  in  which 
short  time,  though  he  had  no  acquaintance  with,  nor  in 
deed  ever  seen  the  lady  these  six  years,  I  suppose  he  ac 
complished  his  whole  design  ;  for  it  was  not  above  a 
fortnight  after  his  return  here,  before  he  sent  a  young 
fellow,  who  came  out  of  college  last  fall,  into  New  Eng 
land,  to  conduct  her  and  her  mother  down  here.  ...  I 
think  her  a  person  of  great  beauty,  though,  I  must  say, 
that  in  my  opinion,  she  is  rather  too  young  (being  only 
twenty-one  years  of  age)  for  the  President.  This  account 
you  '11  doubtless  communicate  to  mammy,  as  I  know  she 
has  Mr.  Burr's  happiness  much  at  heart." 

Mr.  Shippen  was  the  son  of  William  Shippen,  M.  D., 
of  Philadelphia.  Immediately  after  graduating,  he  en 
tered  the  Provincial  Army,  in  which  he  soon  rose  to  the 


J753- 

rank  of  Colonel,  and  served  in  General  Joseph  Forbes' 
expedition  in  1758,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Du  Quesne.  After  the  troops  were  disbanded,  he  went  to 
Europe,  partly  on  a  mercantile  adventure,  but  especially 
for  the  advantage  of  foreign  travel.  He  returned  to 
Philadelphia  in  December,  1761,  and  was  shortly  after 
appointed  Secretary  to  the  Province.  About  1773,  he 
removed  to  the  country,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Phila 
delphia.  In  1789,  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  Lancaster 
County.  Colonel  Shippen  was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him,  as  an  eminently  just  and  upright  man.  To  his  ser 
vice  as  a  soldier,  he  added  the  accomplishments  of  a 
scholar  and  a  man  of  taste,  and  was  not  destitute  of  some 
talent  in  versification.  The  only  reason  why  he  did  not 
enter  the  revolutionary  army  was  feeble  health.  He  died 
February  10,  1811. 

Benjamin  Woodruff  was  the  son  of  Samuel  Wood 
ruff,  an  eminent  merchant  of  Elizabethtovvn,  New  Jersey, 
and  for  nearly  twenty  years  a  Trustee  of  the  College. 
After  graduating,  he  pursued  the  study  of  theology, 
probably  with  his  pastor,  Elihu  Spencer.  In  due  time 
he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  on  March  14,  1759,  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Westfield, 
New  Jersey.  During  the  forty-four  years  of  his  ministry 
at  Westfield,  he  greatly  endeared  himself  to  his  people, 
by  his  preaching  and  pastoral  intercourse. 

Mr.  Woodruff  is  described  as  small  in  person,  dignified 
and  precise  in  his  manners,  social  in  his  habits,  scrupu 
lously  exact  and  fastidious  in  his  dress,  with  small-clothes, 
silk  hose,  buckles,  cock-hat  and  ruffles,  everywhere  the 
same  and  always  commanding  profound  respect. 

He  died  quite  suddenly  April  3,  1803. 

Joseph  Woodruff,  a  brother  of  the  preceding,  after 
graduating,  returned  to  Elizabethtown  and  entered  into 
business  with  his  father,  who  was  largely  engaged  in  the 
West  India  trade. 

[26] 


1754- 

Moses  Barrett.  From  the  time  of  his  graduation 
until  1757,  Mr.  Barrett  was  the  first  preceptor  of  Moor's 
Indian  Charity  School,  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut.  This 
school  was  afterwards  removed  to  New  Hampshire,  and 
became  the  nucleus  of  Dartmouth  College,  although  the 
school  itself  was  never  merged  in  the  college.  What  be 
came  of  Mr.  Barrett  'after  leaving  this  school,  I  have  not 
been  able  to  discover. 

Benjamin  Chapman  was  ordained  on  the  I7th  of 
March,  1756,  and  settled  over  the  Congregational  Church 
at  Southington,  Connecticut.  He  was  dismissed  from  his 
charge,  September  28,  1774,  but  continued  to  reside  in 
Southington  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  22, 
1786.  Mr.  Chapman  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree 
at  Yale  in  1761. 

John  Ewiiig.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Ewing  were  early 
emigrants  from  Ireland,  and  settled  in  Maryland.  After 
graduating,  he  remained  three  years  as  tutor  in  the  col 
lege.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  he  was  employed  as  in 
structor  of  the  Philosophical  classes  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  during  the  absence  of  Dr.  Smith,  the  Pro 
vost,  in  Europe.  In  1758  Mr.  Ewing  became  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia.  In  1773 
he  visited  Europe,  but  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolution, 
in  1775,  he  returned  to  this  country,  notwithstanding  the 
most  tempting  offers  which  were  made  to  induce  him  to 
remain  in  England.  During  this  visit  he  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Edinburgh. 
While  abroad  he  visited  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  nobly  de- 

[*7l 


'754- 

fending  the  cause  of  his  country,  which  was  violently 
assailed.  After  liberally  applying  the  terms  "  rebels"  and 
"  scoundrels"  to  the  people  of  America,  Johnson  turned 
rudely  to  Dr.  Ewing,  demanding,  "  What  do  you  know 
in  America?  You  never  read  ;  you  have  no  books  there." 
"  Pardon  me,  sir,"  said  Dr.  Ewing,  "  we  have  read  the 
Rambler."  The  graceful  blending  of  retort  and  compli 
ment  pacified  the  savage  essayist,  and  till  midnight  he 
sat  with  Dr.  Ewing  in  amiable  and  genial  conversa 
tion. 

In  1779  Dr.  Ewing  was  appointed  Provost  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  one  of  the  most  re 
markable  scholars  of  his  day.  In  classical  learning  and 
natural  science,  he  stood  without  a  rival.  His  Hebrew 
Bible  was  constantly  at  his  side,  and  was  used  from 
choice  for  devotional  purposes.  At  an  hour's  notice,  he 
was  ready  and  fully  competent  to  supply  the  place  of  any 
professor  who  might  chance  to  be  absent.  In  the  pulpit, 
he  was  eminently  popular  among  the  more  cultivated. 
He  died  September  8,  1802. 

Dr.  Ewing  published,  Part  of  a  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Dr.  Alison.  A 
Sermon  on  the  Death  of  George  Bryan,  1791.  The  Design  of  Christ  Com 
ing  into  the  World,  in  the  "American  Preacher,"  Vol.  II  And  several 
communications  in  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Philosophical  Soci 
ety.  His  Lectures  on  Natural  Philosophy  were  published  in  1809. 

Benjamin  Hoit,  (or  Hait,)  while  a  student,  paid  a 
visit,  in  company  of  President  Davies,  to  New  York.  Mr. 
Davies  writes  of  him  :  "  A  promising  young  man  ;  I  had 
an  agreeable  conversation  with  him  on  original  sin,  and 
the  influence  of  the  flesh  upon  the  spirit  to  incline  it  to 
sin."  Mr.  Hait  (which  is  his  true  name)  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  October  25,  1754,  and 
sent  to  the  Forks  of  Delaware.  He  was  ordained  De 
cember  4,  1755,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Am  well,  New  Jersey.  While  settled  here,  by 
order  of  Synod,  he  visited  and  supplied  the  southern  va 
cancies.  He  gave  up  his  charge  in  Am  well  in  1765.  In 


'754- 

1766  he  was  settled  at  Connecticut  Farms,  New  Jersey, 
and  died  there  June  27,  1779. 

Ezra  Horton  became  a  Congregational  minister,  and 
settled  at  Union,  Connecticut,  in  June,  1759,  where  he  re 
mained  until  June,  1783.  Mr.  Horton  was  admitted  to 
an  ad  eundem  Master's  degree,  at  Yale,  in  1772.  He 
died  in  1789. 

Hugh  Kiiox  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland,  in 
1751.  Dr.  Rodgers,  of  New  York,  then  of  Delaware,  be 
coming  interested  in  him,  established  a  school,  of  which 
Mr.  Knox  became  the  head.  While  thus  engaged,  an 
event  happened  which  moulded  the  whole  of  his  life. 
He  had  become  associated  with  a  number  of  young  men 
who  were  accustomed  to  meet  on  Saturday  afternoons 
for  a  frolic.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  some  one  of  the 
company  cried  out  to  Knox:  "  Come  parson"  (a  title 
which  they  gave  him  on  account  of  his  being  the  gravest 
of  their  number,  and  withal  a  great  admirer  of  Dr.  Rod 
gers'  preaching),  "  come  parson,  give  us  a  sermon  !"  At 
first  he  declined,  but  being  pressed,  gave  an  exact  imita 
tion  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  and  almost  verbatim,  the  sermon 
that  he  had  preached  on  the  previous  Sabbath.  As  he 
proceeded,  his  auditors,  who  began  to  listen  in  merri 
ment,  became  deeply  serious,  and  the  speaker  himself 
was  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  his  sin.  The  next 
morning,  overcome  with  remorse,  he  fled  from  the  place. 
Soon  after,  he  went  to  Newark,  and  applied  to  President 
Burr  for  admission  to  college.  He  related  his  whole  pre 
vious  course,  and  his  repentance,  and  was  admitted.  His 
course  in  college  was  all  that  could  be  desired.  After 
his  graduation,  he  studied  theology  with  President  Burr, 
and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  in 
1755,  and  was  sent  to  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in 
the  Island  of  Saba,  of  which  he  became  pastor.  At  his 
ordination,  he  preached  a  sermon  on  "  The  Dignity  and 
Importance  of  the  Gospel  Ministry,"  which  was  publish- 


'754- 

ed  by  the  unanimous  request  of  the  Presbytery.  In  17/2, 
he  resigned  his  church  at  Saba,  and  settled  at  St.  Croix, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

The  celebrated  Alexander  Hamilton  was  placed  in 
early  boyhood  under  the  instruction  of  Mr.  Knox,  and 
formed  a  strong  attachment  for  him  ;  while  Mr.  Knox  in 
return,  watched  and  assisted  with  the  utmost  fidelity,  the 
development  of  the  wonderful  powers  of  his  pupil.  They 
kept  up  an  active  correspondence  in  after  life  ;  and  two 
of  Mr.  Knox's  letters  are  preserved  in  the  first  volume 
of  Hamilton's  works.  Both  were  written  during  the 
Revolution,  and  breathe  a  spirit  of  earnest  devotion  to 
the  American  cause.  Mr.  Knox  was  admitted  to  a  Mas 
ter's  degree  at  Yale,  1768,  and  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of 
Glasgow. 

Dr.  Knox  published  (according  to  Dr.  Miller)  five  or  six  volumes,  chiefly 
sermons.  Two  volumes  of  his  sermons,  printed  in  Glasgow,  in  1772,  are 
in  the  Library  of  the  College,  at  Princeton. 

David  Matthews,  one  of  the  few  disloyal  graduates 
of  Princeton,  was  a  native  of  Orange  County,  New 
York.  After  leaving  college,  he  studied  law,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  in  New  York  City,  where,  for  twenty 
years,  he  acted  as  Crown  Officer.  In  1775,  he  succeeded 
Mr.  Hicks  as  Mayor  of  the  city,  but  being  a  decided 
royalist,  his  name  was  entered  on  the  list  of  the  suspected 
as  early  as  May,  1776.  In  1779,  he  was  arrested  by  order 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  lodged  in  jail,  whence 
he  was  soon  removed  to  Connecticut.  The  charge  against 
him  was  that  he  was  cognizant  of,  or  concerned  in,  Gov 
ernor  Tryon's  plot  to  assassinate  General  Washington 
and  blow  up  the  fort,  but  the  evidence  against  him  was 
far  from  being  conclusive.  By  the  Act  of  1779,  ne  was 
attainted,  and  his  property  confiscated.  After  the  war, 
Mr.  Matthews  removed  to  the  Island  of  Cape  Breton, 
where  he  was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  and  Presi 
dent  of  the  Council,  and  Attorney-General.  He  died  in 

[30] 


'754- 

July,  1800  ;  it  is  said  of  a  broken  heart,  on  account  of  the 
treatment  received  in  this  country.  Mr.  Matthews  is 
represented  to  have  been  a  cheerful  and  instructive  com 
panion,  a  sincere  and  faithful  friend.  He  was  charitable 
and  hospitable  to  a  fault.  His  judgment  was  clear  and 
accurate  in  the  administration  of  the  laws  and  constitu 
tion  of  the  British  Colonies. 

Jonathan  Odell,  a  grandson  of  President  Dickin 
son,  was  from  Connecticut  Farms,  New  Jersey.  After 
graduating,  he  entered  the  ministry,  but  I  can  discover 
no  facts  as  to  his  place  of  settlement,  or  of  his  after  life. 

Sylvanus  Oslborne  studied  theology,  and  was  or 
dained,  and  settled  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  Congrega 
tional  Church  at  East  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  June  29, 
1757.  Mr.  Osborne  continued  in  this  charge  until  his 
death,  in  1771.  He  was  admitted  to  an  adeundem  Master's 
degree  at  Yale,  in  1757. 

Mr.  Osborne  was  a  successful  pastor,  and  during  his 
ministry  there  was  continued  harmony,  and  a  constant 
attention  to  the  things  of  another  world,  which  resulted 
in  members  being  added  to  the  church  every  year. 

David  Pvirviaiice  was  probably  the  son  of  Samuel 
Purviance,  who  was  at  this  very  time  a  leading  merchant 
in  Philadelphia,  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  a  warm  and  active  friend  of  the  college.  Of  the  son 
I  can  learn  nothing. 

William  Ramsay  was  a  brother  of  the  Historian, 
David  Ramsay,  of  South  Carolina,  a  graduate  of  the  class 
of  1765.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Association  of  Fairfield 
East,  Connecticut,  November  25,  1755,  and  was  received 
into  the  Abingdon  Presbytery  and  ordained,  and  settled 
as  pastor  of  the  Fairfield  Church,  May  11,  1756.  He  died 
November  5,  1771.  His  character  may  be  learned  from 
the  inscription  on  his  tomb: 

[31] 


'754- 

"  Beneath  this  stone  lie  interred  the  remains  of  the 
Rev.  William  Ramsay,  M.  A.,  for  sixteen  years  a  faithful 
pastor  in  this  place,  whose  superior  genius  and  native 
eloquence  shone  so  conspicuously  in  the  pulpit  as  to 
command  the  attention  and  gain  the  esteem  of  all  his 
hearers.  In  every  situation  of  life  he  discharged  his  duty 
faithfully.  He  lived  greatly  respected  and  died  univer 
sally  lamented." 

Benajah  Root  (the  name  is  commonly  spelled  Roots) 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  a  Congregational 
Church  at  Simsbury,  Connecticut,  August  10,  1757.  In 
1773  he  became  pastor  of  a  Church  at  Rutland,  Vermont. 
Here  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1787.  Mr.  Root  was 
a  faithful  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  ardently  attached  to  the 
doctrines  of  religion  as  they  are  expressed  in  the  West 
minster  Catechism,  and  much  interested  in  revivals.  He 
was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Dartmouth  in  1784. 

Mr.  Roots  published   a  Sermon    preached    at   the   Organization   of  his 
Church  in  1773. 

Josiah  Sherman  was  a  brother  of  Nathaniel  Sher 
man  of  the  class  of  1753.  In  1755  he  was  licensed  by  the 
Litchfield  South  Association  of  Connecticut,  and  in  1756 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Woburn,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Sherman  remained  here 
until  April  n,  1775,  when  he  removed  to  Connecticut, 
and  in  August  of  the  same  year  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  Plymouth  Church,  Milford,  Connecticut.  In  June, 
1781,  he  resigned  this  charge,  and  in  June,  1783,  was  set 
tled  at  Goshen,  Connecticut.  In  February,  1789  he  re 
signed,  having  been  called  to  a  Church  in  Woodbridge, 
Connecticut,  but  died  a  few  months  after  his  arrival 
there,  November  24,  1789. 

Mr.  Sherman  wore  a  large  white  wig,  and  was  very 
imposing  and  winning  in  his  appearance.  He  had  popu 
lar  talents,  and  on  his  settlement  at  Goshen  was  at  first 
very  acceptable.  But  alienation  arose  in  consequence 

[3*1 


1754- 

of  his  avowing,  in  his  preaching,  Arminian  sentiments, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  resign. 

Mr.  Sherman  received  a  Master's  degree  from  Har 
vard  in  1758,  and  from  Yale  and  Dartmouth  in  1765. 

He  published  A  Discourse  Addressed  to  Infidels.  A  Discourse,  Re 
demption  by  Christ.  The  History  of  Melchisedec. 

William  Shippen,  a  brother  of  Joseph  Shippen,  of 
the  class  of  1753,  after  his  graduation,  entered  upon  the 
study  of  medicine  with  his  father  in  Philadelphia,  and 
completed  his  course  in  Edinburgh.  In  1764  he  com 
menced  a  course  on  Anatomy  in  his  native  city,-  which 
was  the  first  ever  pronounced  in  the  world  on  that  sub 
ject.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Medical  College 
connected  with  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
elected  the  first  professor  in  1765. 

In  the  Revolutionary  war  he  proved  himself  to  be  an 
ardent  patriot,  and  represented  his  State  in  the  Continen 
tal  Congress.  Dr.  Shippen  was  for  more  than  thirty 
years  a  Trustee  of  the  College.  He  died  in  1808. 

Thomas  Smith.  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover 
with  absolute  certainty,  but  I  think  there  is  little  doubt 
that  Mr.  Smith  was  a  brother  of  William  Smith  the. 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Province  of  New  York,  and  of 
Charles  Smith  of  the  Class  of  1757.  After  graduating  he 
was  admitted  to  the  New  York  Bar,  and  became  emi 
nent  in  his  profession.  During  the  Revolution  he  re 
moved  to  Haverstraw,  New  York,  and  in  1781,  while 
residing  there,  Aaron  Burr  became  a  student  of  law  in 
his  office.  Mr.  Smith  died  in  Haverstraw  after  1800. 

Noah  Wadhams,  a  native  of  Goshen,  Connecticut, 
received  ordination  and  was  settled  over  the  Congrega 
tional  Church  at  New  Preston,  Litchfield  County,  Con 
necticut,  in  1757,  where  he  remained  until  1768.  He  was 
admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Yale  in  1764.  He  died 
in  1806. 

3  [33] 


1755- 

Jonathan  [Baldwin,  after  graduating-,  removed 
from  New  Jersey,  his  native  State,  to  New  York  city, 
and  became  Steward  of  King's  College,  just  organized. 
Afterwards  he  occupied  the  same  position  at  Princeton. 
How  long  he  held  this  post,  I  have  not  discovered.  Mr. 
Baldwin,  after  leaving  Princeton,  retired  to  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  died  in  1816. 

Benoni  Bradner  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Brad- 
ner,  of  Goshen,  New  York.  After  his  licensure,  he  preach 
ed  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  from  1760  to  1762.  After 
wards  he  was  settled  at  Nine  Partners,  in  Dutchess  Coun 
ty,  New  York,  and  in  June,  1786,  became  the  minister  of 
the  Independent  Church  in  Blooming  Grove,  Orange 
County.  Consumptive,  and  troubled  with  shortness  of 
breath,  he  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-one,  and  died  Jan 
uary  29,  1804.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Morris  County 
Society  for  Promoting  Religion  and  Learning  from  its 
formation.  Yale  admitted  him  to  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  in  1758. 

Thaddeus  Burr  was  a  son  of  Henry  Burr,  who  died 
in  New  Jersey,  in  1742.  It  is  uncertain  whether  this 
Henry  Burr  was  a  cousin  or  a  brother  of  President  Burr. 
Henry  Burr  is  said  to  have  been  the  brother  of  President 
Burr,  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collection,  vol.  vii., 
p.  187.  If  this  is  true,  then  Thaddeus  was  a  nephew  of 
President  Burr.  But  others,  with  apparent  good  reason, 
think  that  Henry  was  a  cousin  of  President  Burr,  and 
that  would  make  Thaddeus  his  second  cousin. 

Thaddeus  Burr  became  a  lawyer  in  Fairfield,  Connec- 

[34] 


J755- 

ticut,  and  rose  to  eminence  and  wealth.  John  Hancock, 
President  of  the  Continental  Congress,  was  married  in 
his  house,  to  Miss  Dorothy  Quincy,  of  Boston,  in  1775. 
During  the  Revolution  Mr.  Burr  was  the  High-Sheriff 
of  the  county.  In  1779,  his  splendid  mansion  was  burned 
by  the  forces  under  General  Tryon.  Mrs.  Burr  made  a 
personal  application  to  Governor  Tryon,  but  he  refused 
to  protect  her  or  the  house.  The  house  of  Mr.  Burr  was 
the  mansion  of  his  ancestors  :  it  was  a  house  where  ele 
gant  hospitality  reigned,  and  where  refined  enjoyments 
were  daily  felt  and  distributed  to  the  friend  and  the  strang 
er.  Mr.  Burr  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Yale, 
in  1758. 

Wheeler  Case  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Suffolk 
Presbytery,  and  settled  as  first  pastor  of  Pleasant  Valley 
Church,  Dutchess  County,  New'York,  in  November,  1765. 
Poughkeepsie  for  some  years  formed  a  part  of  his  charge, 
but  during  the  war  it  became  so  enfeebled  as  to  be  virtu 
ally  extinct.  Mr.  Case  continued  in  the  pastorate  of 
Pleasant  Valley  for  more  than  twenty  years.  In  1778,  an 
anonymous  pamphlet  was  published  at  New  Haven,  en 
titled,  "  Poems  occasioned  by  several  circumstances  and 
reminiscences  in  the  present  grand  contest  of  America  for 
Liberty."  The  author  was  Wheeler  Case.  He  states  in 
the  preface,  that  some  of  the  pieces  were  written  merely 
for  amusement,  and  with  the  design  to  promote  the  cause 
of  Liberty,  into  whose  treasury  he  casts  his  mite  in  pub 
lishing  them.  These  Poems  were  re-published  by  M.  W. 
Dodd,  of  New  York,  in  1852. 

Mr.  Case  probably  died  April  8,  1793. 

Benjamin  Conklin  became  a  Congregational  minis 
ter,  and  was  settled  November  23,  1763,  over  a  church  in 
Leicester,  Massachusetts.  He  resigned  his  charge  June 
30,  1794,  and  died  January  30,  1798.  Mr.  Conklin  was  a 
laborious  minister.  He  was  pleasing  and  interesting, 
without  being  brilliant ;  useful  and  instructive,  without 

T35] 


'755- 

being  great.  He  performed  the  duties  of  his  station 
honorably  and  acceptably,  and  among  the  patriots  of 
the  Revolution,  he  deserved  a  very  high  place.  In  one 
of  the  towns  bordering  upon  his  parish,  it  was  thought 
by  some  of  the  people  that  their  clergyman  did  not  preach 
strongly  enough  in  favor  of  the  cause  of  liberty  ;  "  then," 
said  he,  "  I  will  exchange  with  Mr.  Conklin,  and  he  will 
satisfy  you,  I  am  sure." 

John  Haiina  received  his  license  to  preach  from  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  about  1760.  In  April, 
1761,  he  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  and  set 
tled  as  pastor  of  Alexandria,  Kingwood  and  Bethlehem 
Churches,  New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
in  1801.  Mr.  Hanna  was  also  a  physician,  and  practised 
quite  extensively,  but  it  never  interfered  with  his  duties 
as  a  pastor  or  as  a  member  of  the  various  church  courts. 
Dr.  Hanna  was  a  warm-hearted  patriot,  and  ever  true  to 
the  American  cause. 

Garret  Leydecker,  spelled  also  Lydekker,  was  li 
censed  by  Conference  in  1765.  In  1767,  he  preached  as 
a  supply  ;  and  from  1770  to  1776,  he  was  pastor  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  English  Neighborhood,  New 
Jersey.  At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution  he  took  the 
side  of  the  British,  and  fled  to  New  York,  and  finally  to 
England,  where  he  died  in  1794. 

Joseph  Montgomery  received  his  license  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  about  1759,  and  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes  about  1761,  and  settled  as 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  New  Castle  and 
Christiana  Bridge,  Delaware.  The  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle  reported  to  the  Synod,  in  1785,  "  that  in  conse 
quence  of  Mr.  Joseph  Montgomery's  having  informed 
them  that,  through  bodily  indisposition,  he  was  incapable 
of  officiating  in  the  ministry,  and  having  also  accepted 
an  office  under  the  civil  authority,  they  have  left  his 

[36] 


'755- 

name  out  of  their  Records."  From  1784  to  1788,  Mr. 
Montgomery  represented  Pennsylvania  in  the  Continen 
tal  Congress.  He  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at 
the  Philadelphia  College,  and  Yale  in  1760. 

Isaac  Smith  served  as  a  tutor  for  one  year  after  his 
graduation.  He  afterwards  studied  medicine  and  began 
to  practice  ;  but  the  troubles  with  Great  Britain  com 
mencing,  he  soon  became  distinguished  for  his  patriotic 
services,  and  in  1776  was  in  command  of  a  regiment. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  which  position  he  held 
for  eighteen  years.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  after  the  present  Constitution  was 
formed,  from  1795  to  1797,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by 
Washington  and  Adams.  Mr.  Smith  united  the  charac 
ters  of  a  Christian,  scholar,  soldier  and  gentleman.  He 
died  in  1807,  in  hope  of  mercy  through  the  Redeemer. 

[37] 


1756. 


Stephen  Camp  was  a  son  of  John  Camp,  of  Newark, 
New  Jersey.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  the  Hon.  Isaac 
Tichenor,  of  the  Class  of  1775,  and  encouraged  by  him, 
went  with  him  or  followed  him  into  Vermont.  He  was 
a  lawyer,  but  not  very  successful  in  his  profession,  and 
died  young,  according  to  tradition.  Mr.  Camp  was  a 
nephew  of  Dr.  William  Burnet,  of  the  Class  of  1749. 

Alexander  Martin.  The  family  of  Mr.  Martin 
moved  from  New  Jersey  to  Virginia,  and  from  thence 
to  North  Carolina,  from  which  State  the  son  came  to 
college.  In  1772,  he  represented  his  State  in  the  Colo 
nial  Assembly.  In  1774,  he  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Assembly  of  the  people  in  North  Carolina,  met  to  vindi 
cate  their  rights.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
in  1775  and  1776.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  be 
came  a  Colonel  in  the  Continental  line,  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and  Germantown.  In  the 
last  he  was  near  Gen.  Lafayette  when  he  was  wounded. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Martin  was  Speaker  of  the  Senate 
of  North  Carolina.  In  1782,  he  was  elected  Governor  of 
the  State,  and  again  in  1789.  He  left  several  manuscripts 
in  prose  and  verse.  An  ode  on  the  death  of  Gen.  Francis 
Nash,  and  one  on  Gov.  Caswell  were  published  in  the 
North  Carolina  University  Magazine.  From  1793  to  1799, 
Mr.  Martin  represented  his  State  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  In  1793,  Gov.  Martin  received  the  Hon 
orary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Princeton.  He 
died  in  1807. 

From  the  omission  in  the  Triennial  Catalogue  of  any 
honorary  designations,  I  have  felt  some  doubt  whether 

[38] 


our  graduate  was  the  Gov.  Martin  sketched  above.  But 
as  we  know  that  Gov.  Martin's  brother  graduated  in 
1762,  and,  as  Wheeler  in  his  history  of  North  Carolina 
says  that  he  was,  "  at  Princeton  for  a  time,"  I  conclude 
that  I  am  right  in  my  conjecture. 

William  Mills,  a  native  of  Long  Island,  was  ordain 
ed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1762,  and  be 
came  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Jamaica, 
Long  Island.  He  died  in  New  York,  March  18,  1774, 
where  he  had  gone  to  get  medical  advice  for  a  chronic 
disease  under  which  he  was  suffering. 

Mr.  Mills  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Yale 
in  1771.  A  New  York  paper  of  that  day  says  that  "  His 
amiable  disposition,  his  peaceful  and  prudent  conduct, 
his  unaffected  piety  and  rational  devotion,  remarkably 
endeared  him  to  those  acquainted  with  him."  Mr.  Mills 
appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  wealth,  as  "  three  im 
proved  farms,"  constituting  a  part  of  his  estate,  were  ad 
vertised  for  sale  shortly  after  his  death. 

Josiah  Ogden.  The  father  of  Mr.  Ogden  resided  in 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Presby 
terian  Chtfrch  ;  but  some  trouble  arising  from  his  gather 
ing  in  his  hay  on  the  Sabbath,  he  went  over  to  the  Epis 
copalians,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  old  Trinity 
Church  in  that  town.  Our  graduate  died  young.  He 
had  two  brothers  who  were  prominent  men  in  their  day, 
Dr.  Jacob  Ogden,  of  Long  Island,  and  Judge  David  Og 
den,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and  a  noted  loyalist.  There  is 
a  notice  of  him  in  "  Sabin's  Loyalists." 

Joseph  Peck  was  licensed  by  Fairfield  East  Associ 
ation,  in  Connecticut,  on  May  29,  1758.  In  1762  I  find 
him  settled  over  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Phillippi,  in 
what  was  called  Phillips'  Precinct,  lying  between  Fish- 
kill  and  South  Salem,  New  York.  On  October  27,  of 
the  same  year,  he,  in  connection  with  Solomon  Mead 

[39] 


and  Elisha  Kent,  met  and  organized  what  was  long 
known  as  Dutchess  Presbytery.  -Mr.  Peck  remained  in 
this  charge  until  1769,  when  in  June  of  that  year  he  was 
installed  pastor  of  a  Congregational  Church  in  New  Fair- 
field,  Connecticut,  where  he  remained  until  1775.  I  can 
trace  him  no  further. 

Azel  Roe  came  to  College  from  Long  Island.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1760,  and 
two  years  after  was  ordained.  In  1763  he  became  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Woodbridge,  New  Jersey, 
afterwards  connected  with  Metuchin.  During  the  Rev 
olutionary  war  Mr.  Roe  proved  his  patriotism  in  many 
ways.  The  part  of  New  Jersey  in  which  he  resided,  was 
much  annoyed  by  marauding  parties  sent  out  from  the 
British  troops  stationed  on  Staten  Island.  On  one  occa 
sion,  a  brave  Continental  Captain,  who  had  done  great 
execution  in  driving  off  or  annoying  these  predatory 
bands,  was  very  anxious  to  attack  a  party  which  had 
encamped  near  the  Blazing  Star  Ferry,  but  could  not 
induce  his  men  to  follow  him.  As  many  of  them  belong 
ed  to  Mr.  ROQ'S  congregation,  he  thought  he  would  put 
in  requisition  his  influence  over  them.  Accordingly  he 
called  and  stated  his  difficulty,  and  found  Mr.  Roe  more 
than  willing  to  second  his  efforts.  The  good  minister 
accompanied  the  Captain  to  the  place  where  his  men 
were,  and  addressed  a  few  words  to  them,  exhorting 
them  to  their  duty,  and  enforcing  his  exhortation  by  tell 
ing  them  that  it  was  his  purpose  to  go  into  the  action 
himself.  And  into  the  action  he  went — every  man  fol 
lowing  readily.  But  when  the  bullets  began  to  fly  among 
them,  they  promised  that  if  he  would  keep  out  of  harm's 
way,  they  would  do  the  business  for  the  enemy.  And 
seeing  that  their  spirits  were  sufficiently  excited,  he  did 
retire,  and,  as  he  afterwards  acknowledged,  very  much 
to  his  own  comfort. 

One  night  the  Tories  united  with  the  British  and  seized 
Mr.  Roe  while  he  was  with  his  family,  and  carried  him 

[40] 


1756. 

off  as  a  prisoner  to  New  York,  where  they  shut  him  up 
in  the  "  Sugar  House."  As  they  were  on  their  way  to 
New  York,  they  were  obliged  to  ford  a  small  stream. 
The  officer  in  command,  who  seemed  to  have  taken  a 
fancy  to  Mr.  Roe,  and  treated  him  politely,  insisted  that 
the  captured  minister  should  allow  him  to  carry  him 
over  on  his  back.  When  they  were  about  the  middle  of 
the  stream,  Mr.  Roe,  who  relished  a  joke,  and  was  not 
wanting  in  ready  wit,  said  to  the  officer,  "  Well,  sir,  if 
never  before,  you  can  say  after  this,  that  you  was  once 
priest-ridden."  The  officer  was  so  convulsed  with  laugh 
ter,  that  he  had  well  nigh  fallen  under  his  burden  into 
the  water.  When  they  arrived  in  New  York,  an  excel 
lent  breakfast  was  sent  to  Mr.  Roe  by  the  father  of  Wash 
ington  Irving,  who  had  been  informed  of  his  imprison 
ment. 

Mr.  Roe  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College  twenty-nine 
years — from  1778  to  1807.  In  1800  the  honorary  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  on  him  by  Yale. 
Dr.  Roe  was  about  the  medium  height  and  well  propor 
tioned.  His  manners  were  more  than  ordinarily  graceful 
and  dignified.  His  preaching  was  distinguished  for  sub 
stantial  excellence,  rather  than  those  qualities  which  at 
tract  the  multitude.  He  was  universally  and  highly  es 
teemed  as  a  pastor,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  same  flock 
for  fifty-four  years.  He  died  in  November,  1815. 

.  Jesse  Root  came  to  College  from  Massachusetts. 
After  preaching  for  three  years,  on  account  of  family  cir 
cumstances  he  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
in  1763.  In  1777  he  raised  a  company  in  Hartford  and 
joined  General  Washington  ;  he  was  made  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  soon  after.  From  May,  1779,  till  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
In  1789  he  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court 
of  Connecticut,  and  was  Chief  Justice  from  1796  until  his 
resignation  in  1807. 

He  was,  as  a  judge,  learned  and  dignified — a  man  of 

£41] 


warm  and  undoubted  piety.  At  the  age  of  eighty-five 
he  was  always  seen  in  his  place  in  the  prayer-meeting 
and  conference.  On  the  evening  of  his  death,  he  said, 
"  I  set  out  on  a  pleasant  journey  in  the  morning,  and  I 
shall  get  through  to-night.  He  died  March  29,  1822.  In 
1800  Yale  conferred  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  upon  Judge  Root. 

His  publications  are:  Report  of  Cases  adjudged  in  the  Superior  Court 
and  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  of  Connecticut  from  1789  to  1798, 
Hartford,  1798-1803.  2  vols.  Svo.  Illustrated  by  notes  on  adjudged  points 
and  rules  of  practice. 


1757- 

Moses  Baldwin.  The  Commencement  of  1757  was 
the  first,  after  the  removal  of  the  College  to  Princeton  ; 
made  sadly  memorable  by  the  death  of  President  Burr, 
two  days  before.  At  the  head  of  the  roll  and  of  the  Class 
of  this  year  stood  Moses  Baldwin,  a  native  of  Newark, 
New  Jersey.  After  graduating,  he  studied  theology,  and 
was  licensed  probably  by  Suffolk  Presbytery.  On  the 
1 7th  of  June,  1761,  he  was  ordained,  and  settled  over  a 
Congregational  Church  in  Palmer,  Massachusetts.  He 
remained  as  pastor  of  this  church  until  June  19,  1811, 
when  he  resigned.  He  died  in  1813.  As  a  minister,  Mr. 
Baldwin  was  faithful  and  diligent  in  discharging  the 
duties  of  his  office.  His  great  ambition  was  to  live  to 
the  glory  of  God.  His  preaching  was  impressive,  for 
Christ  and  his  Cross  was  all  his  theme.  He  was  admit 
ted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Dartmouth,  in  1791. 

Caleb  Barnum,  a  native  of  Danbury,  Connecticut, 
was  licensed  by  the  Fairfield  East  Association,  May  30, 
1759,  and  was  ordained,  and  settled  pastor  of  the  Congre 
gational  Church  at  Franklin,  Massachusetts.  He  remain 
ed  here  about  eight  years,  when  on  account  of  difficul 
ties  in  the  congregation  he  resigned.  Soon  after  the 
opening  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Mr.  Barnum  was  ap 
pointed  Chaplain  in  the  Western  Army,  but  died  in  camp 
in  1776.  Mr.  Barnum's  successor  at  Franklin  was  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Nathaniel  Emmons.  Mr.  Barnum  was 
admitted  to  an  ad  eundem  Master's  degree  at  Harvard, 
in  1768. 

Nicholas  Bayard  was  probably  the  son  of  William 

[43] 


1757- 

Bayard,  a  leading  merchant  in  New  York  before  and 
during  the  Revolution.  The  family  was  distantly  con 
nected  with  Col.  John  Bayard,  of  Philadelphia,  whose 
sons  afterwards  graduated  at  Princeton.  After  graduat 
ing,  Mr.  Bayard  returned  to  New  York.  There  is  in 
Holt's  Gazette  of  November  10,  1763,  a  long  account  of 
disorderly  people  doing  mischief  and  pilfering  on  Sun 
days,  in  the  Bowery,  particularly  that  a  great  number 
surrounded  the  orchard  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Bayard,  where 
a  large  quantity  of  apples  "  lay  on  heaps  for  making 
cider,"  and  Mr.  Bayard  being  from  home,  the  overseer 
was  abused,  who  then  ordering  a  gun  to  be  brought 
kept  them  off  till  dark  ;  when  the  orchard  was  attacked, 
and  he  fired  at  the  legs  of  one,  and  wounded  him.  The 
family  sent  another  gun,  and  a  reinforcement  of  another 
white  man.  The  loafers  came  on  again,  supposing  the 
garrison  out  of  ammunition,  but  received  another  shot  in 
the  legs  of  one  of  the  party,  who  then  retreated.  Mr. 
Bayard,  on  returning,  kept  watch  with  his  neighbors  all 
night.  All  this  occurred  near  the  present  Grand  Street 
and  Bowery.  .  Mr.  Bayard  was  at  one  time  an  Alderman 
of  the  city. 

Noah  Benedict  was  born  in  Danbury,  Connecticut. 
He  was  ordained,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Congrega 
tional  Church  at  Woodbury,  Connecticut,  October  22, 
1760,  where  he  preached  for  fifty-three  years.  He  died 
in  September,  1813.  In  1760,  he  was  admitted  to  a  Mas 
ter's  degree  in  Yale,  and  from  1801  to  1812,  was  a  Fellow 
of  Yale  College. 

Mr.  Benedict  published  a  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Dr.  Bellamy,  1790. 
Memoirs  of  Dr.  Bellamy,  1811. 

Aimer  Brush  after  graduating,  studied  theology, 
and  in  1758  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  and  installed  as  pastor  of-the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Goshen,  New  York.  Mr.  Brush  remained  in  this 
charge  until  1766,  in  which  year  he  probably  died. 

[44] 


'757- 

Caleb  Curtiss  studied  theology,  and  was  ordained, 
and  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Charlton,  Massachusetts,  in  1761.  He  was  dismissed  from 
this  charge  in  1776,  after  which  he  represented  the  town 
in  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  served  in  other  public 
capacities.  He  died  March  21,  1802. 

Timothy  Edwards,  the  eldest  son  of  Jonathan  Ed 
wards,  after  his  graduation,  became  a  merchant  in  Eliza- 
bethtown,  New  Jersey  ;  but  in  1770,  he  removed  to  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  and  Avas  a  leading  citizen  for  forty- 
three  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Council 
from  1775  to  1780;  was  Judge  of  Probate  from  1778  to 
1787  ;  declined  the  nomination  of  member  of  Congress  in 
1779.  He  died  October  27,  1813,  aged  75. 

Peter  Faiieuil.  If  I  am  right  in  my  conjecture, 
Mr.  Faneuil  was  the  youngest  child  of  Benjamin  Faneuil, 
and  a  nephew  of  the  well-known  Peter  Faneuil  of  Bos 
ton.  He  entered  the  celebrated  Latin  school  of  John 
Lovell  of  Boston,  in  1746,  and,  after  graduating  at 
Princeton,  entered  into  mercantile  life  in  Montreal. 
Failing  in  business,  he  resorted  to  the  West  Indies,  and, 
after  the  death  of  his  father  in  1785,  he  returned  to  Bos 
ton,  where  he  probably  died. 

Eliiatlian  Gregory  studied  theology  and  was  li 
censed  to  preach  by  the  Fairfield  East  Association,  Con 
necticut,  May  29,  1758.  He  died  in  1816.  I  have  not 
been  able  to  find  the  place  of  Mr.  Gregory's  settlement. 

William  Kirkpatrick  received  license  from  the 
Presbytery  .of  New  Brunswick,  August  15,  1758,  and 
passed  several  months  in  missionary  work  in  New  Jer 
sey.  He  was  ordained  and  appointed  a  supply  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  July  4, 
1759,  where  he  preached  until  1766,  but  was  never  set 
tled  as  their  pastor.  During  this  time  he  had  many  calls, 

[45] 


but  declined  them  all.  In  1766  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
church  in  Am  well,  New  Jersey.  In  1767  he  was  elected 
a  Trustee  of  the  College. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  was  above  the  ordinary  size,  but  not 
corpulent ;  grave,  dignified  and  commanding  in  his  as 
pect,  and  of  most  engaging  address.  He  died  in  Am- 
well,  September  8,  1769. 

Alexander  McWhorter  was  born  in  New  Castle 
Co.,  Delaware,  July  15,  1734.  After  graduating,  he 
studied  theology  with  Rev.  William  Tennent  of  Free 
hold,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns 
wick,  August  3,  1758.  On  July  4th  of  the  same  year,  he 
was  ordained  with  a  view  to  a  mission  in  the  South,  but, 
receiving  a  call  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newark, 
he  accepted,  and  was  installed  the  same  summer.  In 
1764  he  visited  North  Carolina  by  order  of  the  Synod, 
and  was  very  efficient  in  establishing  churches  in  that 
region,  but  came  near  losing  his  life  by  a  violent  attack 
of  fever. 

In  1775,  he  was  appointed  by  Congress  to  visit  North 
Carolina,  and  use  every  effort  to  bring  over  the  enemies 
of  independence  to  the  American  cause. 

In  1776,  Yale  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

In  1777,  he  was  at  the  battle  of  Trenton,  having  gone 
to  headquarters  to  confer  with  General  Washington 
about  the  defence  of  the  State. 

In  1778,  at  the  solicitation  of  General  Knox,  he  acted 
as  chaplain  while  the  army  lay  at  White  Plains.  In  1779 
he  left  Newark,  that  he  might  accept  a  situation  in 
North  Carolina,  but  was  soon  obliged  to  fly  before  the 
army  of  Cornwallis,  losing  almost  all  that  he  possessed. 
Returning  to  Newark,  he  resumed  his  old  charge,  which 
he  retained  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

In  1783,  Dr.  McWhorter  was  elected  President  of 
Washington  Academy  in  Maryland  (afterwards  St.  John's 
College),  which  offer  he  declined. 

[46] 


In  1802,  at  the  advanced  age  of  sixty-eight,  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  the  College  of  New  Jersey  to  solicit  funds  in 
New  England,  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  College  which 
had  just  been  destroyed  by  fire.  He  succeeded  in  col 
lecting  more  than  seven  thousand  dollars.  He  was  a 
Trustee  of  the  College  for  thirty-five  years.  Dr.  Mc- 
Whorter  was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1789  his  name 
stands  second  on  a  Committee,  of  which  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon  was  Chairman,  to  whom  was  committed  "the 
Book  of  Discipline  and  Government,"  with  powers  to 
digest  such  a  system  as  they  shall  think  to  be  accommo 
dated  to  the  state  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amer 
ica. 

Dr.  McWhorter  was  remarkably  a  man  of  order  and 
method.  He  was  also  an  accomplished  teacher ;  and  in 
the  dearth  of  text-books,  he  wrote  with  his  own  hand 
for  his  pupils  treatises  on  several  of  the  sciences.  As 
a  preacher  he  was  plain,  instructive  and  practical ;  his 
language  was  correct,  expressive,  and  often  pathetic. 
He  was  among  the  most  successful  and  popular  preach 
ers  of  his  day.  Of  his  influence  in  Church  Courts,  Dr. 
Griffin  wrote :  "  His  voice  was  listened  to  with  profound 
respect,  and  the  counsels  suggested  by  his  superior  wis 
dom  enlightened  and  swayed  our  public  bodies."  Dr. 
McWhorter  died  in  the  triumph  of  a  rapturous  faith, 
July  20,  1807. 

He  published,  A  sermon  on  The  Blessedness  of  the  Liberal,  1796.  Two 
volumes  of  Sermons,  8vo,  1803. 

Samuel  Parkhurst  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick  in  1761,  and  ordained  the  next  year. 
He  was  never  permanently  settled,  but  died  March  n, 
1768. 

Joseph  Reed  was  born  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey, 
August  27,  1741.  He  studied  law  with  Richard  Stock- 

[47] 


ton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1763.  .  He  then  went 
to  London  and  studied  in  the  Middle  Temple  until  1765, 
when  he  returned  and  commenced  practice  in  Trenton. 
In  1770  Mr.  Reed  re-visited  London,  and  on  his  return 
took  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia.  In  1774  he  was 
President  of  the  State  Convention.  In  1775  he  accompa 
nied  Washington  to  Cambridge  as  his  Aid  and  Secretary, 
and  remained  with  him  during  the  campaign.  In  1776' 
he  was  an  adjutant-general,  and  was  highly  esteemed  as 
an  officer.  By  direction  of  Washington,  he  co-operated  in 
the  affair  at  Princeton  by  attacking  the  neighboring  Brit 
ish  posts.  In  1777  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Con 
tinental  Congress,  and  at  one  time  acted  as  President 
pro-tern.  About  this  time  he  was  approached  by  British 
officials,  offering  him  great  honour  and  emolument  to  use 
his  influence  for  the  restoration  of  harmony.  The  same 
year  he  received  the  offer  of  ten  thousand  pounds  ster 
ling  and  the  best  office  in  the  gift  of  the  crown  in  Amer 
ica,  if  he  could  effect  the  re-union  of  the  two  countries. 
To  this  offer  he  replied  that  "  he  was  not  worth  purchas 
ing  ;  but  such  as  he  was,  the  king  of  Great  Britain  was 
not  rich  enough  to  do  it." 

In  1778  he  was  chosen  President  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
held  the  office  till  1781. 

Mr.  William  Rawl  said  of  him,  "  His  mind  was  per 
spicuous,  his  perceptions  quick,  his  penetration  great, 
his  industry  unremitted.  Before  the  Revolution  he  had 

a  considerable  share  of  the  current  practice When 

he  had  the  conclusion  of  a  cause,  he  was  formidable.  I 
have  heard  an  old  practitioner  say  that  there  was  no  one 
at  the  Bar  he  so  little  liked  to  have  behind  him  as  Joseph 
Reed." 

Mr.  Reed  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
both  in  Trenton  and  Philadelphia,  and  in  one  of  his  pub 
lications  he  said  of  that  Church,  "  When  I  am  convinced 
of  its  errors,  or  ashamed  of  its  character,  I  may  perhaps 
change  it ;  till  then  I  shall  not  blush  at  a  connection  with 
a  people  who,  in  this  great  controversy,  are  not  second 

[48] 


17S7- 

to  any  in  vigorous  exertions  and  generous  contributions, 
and  to  whom  we  are  so  eminently  indebted  for  our  de 
liverance  from  the  thraldom  of  Great  Britain." 

Colonel  Reed  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College  from  1781 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Philadelphia,  March  5, 
1785. 

He  published,  Remarks  on  Governor  Johnstone's  Speech  in  Parliament, 
etc.,  1779,  4to.  Remarks  on  a  Late  Publication  in  the  Independent  Gazet 
teer,  with  an  Address  to  the  People  of  Pennsylvania.  Phila.  1783,  8vo. 

Stephen  Sayre,  a  native  of  Long  Island,  became  an 
eminent  merchant  in  the  city  of  London,  and  was  at  one 
time  High  Sheriff  of  the  city.  But  the  odour  of  patriot 
ism  which  he  carried  with  him  from  Princeton  still  clung 
to  him,  as  we  may  learn  from  the  following  incident :  On 
October  23,  1775,  Mr.  Sayre  was  arrested  on  a  charge 
of  high  treason  made  against  him  by  a  sergeant  of  the 
guard  (also  a  native  American)  named  Richardson.  He 
charged  Sayre  with  having  asserted  that  he  and  others 
intended  to  seize  the  king  on  his  way  to  Parliament,  to 
take  possession  of  the  town,  and  to  overthrow  the  present 
government.  Sayre  was  known  to  be  a  friend  to  the  pa 
triots,  and  on  this  charge  Lord  Rochford,  one  of  the  Sec 
retaries  of  State,  caused  his  papers  to  be  seized  and  him 
self  to  be  arrested.  Sayre  was  committed  to  the  Tower, 
from  which  he  was  released  by  Lord  Mansfield,  who 
granted  a  writ  ok  habeas  corpus.  He  was  subsequently 
tried  and  acquitted.  He  prosecuted  Lord  Rochford  for 
seizing  his  papers,  and  the  court  awarded  him  a  condi 
tional  verdict  of  five  thousand  dollars  damages.  The 
conditions  annexed  proved  a  bar  to  the  recovery  of  the 
money,  and  Sayre  was  obliged  to  suffer  a  heavy  pecuni 
ary  loss  in  costs,  besides  the  personal  indignity.  The 
whole  case  is  reported  in  "  State  Trials."  Mr.  Sayre  re 
turned  again  to  his  native  land,  and  died  in  Virginia  in 
1818. 

James  Smith  was  a  brother  of  William  Smith,  the 
4  [49] 


1.757- 

distinguished  Historian,  of  New  York.  He  received  his 
medical  education  chiefly  in  Europe,  and  was  graduated 
Doctor  of  Medicine  at  Leyden.  He  became  prominent 
in  his  profession  in  New  York  city.  He  is  admitted  to 
have  been  eminently  learned,  but  too  theoretical  and  fan 
ciful,  both  as  a  practitioner  and  in  his  course  of  public 
instruction.  He,  in  connection  with  John  V.  B.  Tennent, 
of  the  class  of  1758,  and  a  few  others,  founded  the  New 
York  Medical  College,  the  second  medical  school  in  the 
United  States.  Dr.  Smith  became  Professor  of  Chemis 
try  and  Materia  Medica. 

He  was  a  writer  of  plays  and  verses,  and  was  the  au 
thor  of  the  drama  entitled,  "  The  Male  Coquette."  Dr. 
Francis,  of  New  York,  describes  him  at  the  age  of  seventy, 
as  attired  in  a  velvet  coat,  with  his  gold  snuff-box  in  one 
hand,  pressing  forward  with  his  vast  projecting  shirt-frills 
discolored  with  the  drippings  of  his  box,  and  his  little 
brochure  of  poetry  in  the  other  hand,  tottering  through 
the  streets  engaged  in  distributing  to  the  chosen  fair  his 
rhyming  products. 

Dr.  Smith  died  in  1812. 

David  Smith  settled  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
where  he  became  a  distinguished  instructor  of  youth. 
He  superintended  the  education  of  Edward  Rutledge, 
one  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

John  Strain  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle,  May  29,  1759,  and  ordained  in  1761.  He  settled 
in  York  County,  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexan 
der  says  of  him,  that  he  was  a  preacher  of  uncommon 
power  and  success,  and  his  manner  awfully  solemn.  He 
was  called  to  succeed  Gilbert  Tennent  in  Philadelphia, 
but  declined  the  call.  He  died  May  21,  1774. 

Joseph  Treat  acted  as  tutor  for  two  years  after  his 
graduation.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  in  1760.  In  October,  1762,  he  was  installed 

[50] 


1757- 

as  colleague  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bostwick  in  the  First  Presby 
terian  Church,  New  York  City.  When  the  Revolution 
ary  War  began,  the  congregation  was  scattered,  and  all 
the  ministers  left  the  city.  Mr.  Treat  never  returned, 
but  supplied  the  Churches  of  Lower  Bethlehem  and 
Greenwich,  in  Sussex  County,  New  Jersey,  until  his 
death,  in  1797. 

Henry  Wells,  a  native  of  New  York  City,  after  grad 
uating,  studied  medicine,  and  commenced  practice  in 
New  York.  After  a  short  residence  there,  he  removed 
to  Brattleborough,  Vermont,  where  he  lived  for  eighteen 
years.  In  1782,  he  removed  to  Montague,  with  a  view 
of  obtaining  a  more  central  situation  as  to  business,  and 
perhaps  to  diminish  somewhat  his  labors  in  advancing 
life.  Dr.  Wells  attained  the  most  distinguished  rank  in 
his  profession.  His  natural  powers  were  good,  and  his 
medical  reading  was  extensive  and  judicious.  He  pro 
fessed  a  firm  belief  in  the  gospel,  and  was  much  attached 
to  the  moral  and  religious  institutions  of  the  country. 
Dr.  Wells  dressed  somewhat  like  the  Quakers,  and  wore 
to  the  last,  velvet  or  buck-skin  small-clothes,  a  long  vest 
with  flaps  and  pockets,  and  a  broad-brimmed  hat.  He 
was  a  man  full  of  cheerfulness  and  facetiousness.  He 
died  August  22,  1814. 


1758. 

Jacob  Ker  was  a  grandson  of  the  well-known  Wal 
ter  Ker,  of  Freehold,  New  Jersey,  who  was  banished  from 
Scotland  in  1685,  "  for  his  faithful  adherence  to  God  and 
his  truth  as  professed  by  the  Church  of  Scotland." 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  after  graduating,  acted  as 
tutor  from  1760  to  1762.  In  1763,  he  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  was  ordained  by  the 
same  Presbytery  in  1764.  On  the  2Qth  of  August  in  the 
same  year,  he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Churches  of 
Monokin  and  Wicomics,  Maryland,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  29,  1795.  Mr.  Ker 
was  a  man  of  fervent  piety,  and  a  good  preacher.  He 
used  manuscripts  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  but 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  preached  without  notes. 
The  following  testimony  to  his  worth  is  from  the  Records 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Lewis:  "  The  loss  of  this  great  and 
good  man  was  sensibly  felt  by  the  Church  in  general, 
and  by  this  Presbytery  in  particular.  He  was  a  bright 
luminary  in  the  Church,  who  lived  exemplarily,  preached 
warmly,  and  prayed  fervently — a  pattern  truly  worthy 
the  imitation  of  his  brethren." 

Philip  Peter  Livingston.  The  Livingston  family 
have  no  knowledge  of  any  one  of  this  name  among  their 
ancestors.  I  therefore  suppose  him  to  be  the  same  as 
Peter  Robert  Livingston,  who  was  a  student  in  the  col 
lege  at  this  time,  as  proved  by  the  following  certificate, 
which  I  find  in  the  Documentary  History  of  New  York  : 

"  New  York,  May  8,  1759. — This  is  to  certify  that  Mr. 

[52! 


1758- 

John  Ewing  was  Tutor  of  the  New  Jersey  College  at 
Princeton  last  year,  I,  the  subscriber,  being  his  pupil. 

"  PETER  RT.   LIVINGSTON." 

If  I  am  right  in  this  conjecture,  then  he  was  a  son  of 
Robert,  third  proprietor  of  the  Manor  of  Livingston. 
He  was  elected  to  represent  the  Manor  in  the  Provincial 
Assembly  in  1761  and  1768,  and  again  in  1774.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  he  adhered,  with  other 
members  of  the  family,  to  the  side  of  American  liberty, 
and  in  1776,  was  chosen  President  of  the  Provincial  Con 
vention,  as  well  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
and  was  employed  in  other  departments  of  the  public 
service.  He  died  November  15,  1794. 

Philip  Phils  Livingston  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Philip  Livingston,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of'  Inde 
pendence,  and  a  nephew  of  Gov.  Livingston,  of  New  Jer 
sey.  What  became  of  him  after  his  graduation,  I  cannot 
discover. 

John  Milner  became  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  and  in 
1764,  was  chosen  Rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  East 
Chester,  New  York,  in  which  position  he  remained  until 
his  death. 

Ralph  Pomeroy  was  probably  the  son  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Benjamin  Pomeroy  of  Connecticut.  After  gradua 
ting,  he  became  the  third  preceptor  of  Moor's  Indian 
Charity  School,  of  which  Moses  Barrett,  of  the  Class 
of  1754,  was  the  first.  In  1786  Mr.  Pomeroy  was  ad 
mitted  to  a  Master's  degree  ad  eundem  at  Dartmouth  Col 
lege. 

Thomas  Smith  studied  theology  after  graduating, 
and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Cranberry,  New 
Jersey,  October  19,  1762,  and  died  at  his  post  December 

[53] 


'758. 

23>  I7%9-     Mr.  Smith  is  represented  to  have  been  a  good 
man,  but  very  inefficient. 

John  Van  Brugh  Temieiit  studied  medicine  and 
settled  in  New  York  City.  Here  he  soon  became  emi 
nent  as  a  physician  and  a  man  of  science.  In  connection 
with  James  Smith,  M.  D.,  of  the  Class  of  1757,  and  others, 
he  founded  the  Medical  College  of  New  York,  in  con 
nection  with  King's  College,  and  became  one  of  its  Pro 
fessors.  This  was  the  second  Medical  School  established 
in  the  United  States ;  the  Philadelphia  College,  estab 
lished  by  Dr.  William  Shipping  of  the  Class  of  1749, 
preceding  it  but  a  short  time.  Dr.  Tennent  died  in 
1770. 

William  Tennent,  a  son  of  Rev.  William  Tennent 
of  Freehold,  New  Jersey,  was  licensed  by  the  Presby 
tery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1761,  and  ordained  the  next 
year.  Soon  after  he  went  to  Virginia  on  a  Missionary 
tour  by  order  of  the  Synod,  where  he  remained  six 
months.  In  1765,  he  became  pastor  of  a  Congrega 
tional  Church  at  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  but  retaining 
his  connection  with  the  Presbytery.  In  1772  he  accepted 
a  pressing  call  to  an  Independent  Church  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  having  been  previously  invited  to  be 
colleague  with  Dr.  Pemberton  in  Boston.  He  was  re 
ceived  in  Charleston  with  great  favor,  and  soon  wielded 
a  commanding  influence  both  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it. 

Mr.  Tennent  could  not  look  with  unconcern  at  the 
great  political  movements  of  the  day.  It  early  took  firm 
hold  of  all  his  powers,  and  to  it  he  devoted  no  small 
share  of  his  energies,  putting  forth  in  its  behalf  some  of 
his  most  eloquent  efforts.  He  was  early  elected  a  mem 
ber  of  the  provincial  Congress,  and  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Committee  of  Intelligence. 

In  July,  1775,  with  Hon.  W.  H.  Drayton,  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  go  through  the 
country  and  explain  to  the  people  the  causes  of  the  difn- 


1758- 

culties  with  Great  Britain.  The  effect  of  this  commis 
sion  was  to  rouse  the  whole  people  in  behalf  of  indepen 
dence. 

We  find  Mr.  Tennent  after  this,  employing  his  pen 
from  time  to  time,  in  the  public  prints,  in  the  cause  of 
civil  freedom,  and  on  the  nth  of  January,  1777,  he  de 
livered  an  eloquent  speech  in  the  House  of  Assembly, 
Charleston,  advocating  a  petition,  penned  by  himself,  to 
which  had  been  attached  the  signature  of  many  thou 
sands,  against  the  Church  establishment  of  the  Church  of 
England. 

Dr.  Ramsay,  the  historian,  states,  that  in  the  different 
hours  of  the  same  day,  Mr.  Tennent  was  occasionally 
heard  both  in  his  church  and  the  State  House,  addressing 
different  audiences,  with  equal  animation,  on  their  spirit 
ual  and  temporal  interests. 

Mr.  Tennent  was  not  only  an  active  and  flaming  pa 
triot,  but  a  noble  preacher.  A  lively  imagination  added 
to  a  careful  study  of  the  Scriptures,  enabled  him  to  bring 
forth  out  of  his  treasury  things  new  and  old  ;  yet  he 
never  entertained  his  audience  with  scholastic  niceties  or 
subtle  questions.  Elegance  of  style,  majesty  of  thought 
and  clearness  of  judgment,  appeared  in  his  discourses 
and  concurred  to  render  them  both  pleasing  and  instruc 
tive. 

In  the  summer  of  1777,  Mr.  Tennent  went  to  Freehold 
to  bring  to  his  own  home  his  widowed  and  aged  mother. 
He  had  reached  within  ninety  miles  of  Charleston  on  his 
way  home,  when  he  was  attacked  with  a  nervous  fever 
which  terminated  his  life  August  11,  1777. 

Two  Sermons  of  Mr.  Tennent  were  published.  One  entitled  "  God's 
Sovereignty  no  Objection  to  the  Sinner's  Striving."  New  York,  1765. 

Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer  became  distinguished 
as  a  patriot  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  at  one  time 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  a 
Member  of  Congress  from  1789  to  1791.  He  died  in  Al 
bany,  February,  1810. 

[55] 


1758. 

William  Whitwell  became  pastor  of  the  first  Con 
gregational  Church  in  Marblehead,  Massachusetts,  in 
1762.  In  his  preaching  he  was  concise  and  pertinent,  in 
structive  and  pathetic.  He  was  admitted  to  a  Master's 
degree  at  Harvard  in  1762.  He  died  in  1781. 

Mr.  Whitwell  published  A  Sermon  to  Mariners,  1769  ;  A  Sermon  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Barnard. 

[56] 


1759- 

James  Caldwell  was  of  French  origin,  his  ancestors 
being  driven  over  into  Scotland  by  the  fierce  persecution 
against  the  Huguenots.  In  the  reign  of  James  I.  a 
branch  of  the  family  removed  to  Antrim  in  the  North  of 
Ireland.  It  was  from  this  family  that  Mr.  Caldwell  des 
cended.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsyl 
vania,  April,  1734.  After  graduating,  he  studied  theol 
ogy,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns 
wick,  in  1761,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey.  Soon  after  his 
settlement  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out,  and  Mr. 
Caldwell  entered  with  all  his  heart  into  the  controversy. 
He  joined  the  regiment  of  his  friend  and  parishioner 
Colonel  Dayton  in  1776,  and  marched  to  the  Northern 
frontier.  His  influence  upon  the  troops  caused  the 
enemy  to  offer  high  rewards  for  his  capture.  In  1780 
his  wife  was  shot  by  a  refugee,  through  the  window  of  a 
room  where  she  had  retired  with  her  children  for  safety. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  at  one  time  Assistant  Commissary- 
General,  where  his  services  were  of  immense  value.  His 
end  was  sudden  and  violent — he  was  shot  by  an  Irish 
man  named  James  Morgan,  who  was  acting  as  sentinel, 
and  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  drunk  at  the  time. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  a  man  of  unwearied  activity,  and  of 
wonderful  powers  of  both  bodily  and  mental  endurance. 
Feelings  of  the  most  glowing  piety,  and  the  most  fervent 
patriotism  occupied  his  bosom  at  the  same  time  without 
interfering  with  each  other. 

A  beautiful  monument  was  erected  over  his  grave  in 
Elizabethtown  in  1845  5  an  address  being  made  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Miller  of  Princeton. 

[57] 


Mr.  Caldwell  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College  at  the  time 
of  his  murder,  November  24,  1781. 

Jabez  Campfield,  a  son  of  Benjamin  Campfield,  of 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  after  graduating,  studied  medicine 
and  settled  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey.  When  the  Revo 
lutionary  war  commenced,  Dr.  Campfield  entered  the 
American  army  as  a  surgeon.  His  journal,  written  while 
acting  as  a  surgeon  under  General  Sullivan  in  his  expedi 
tion  against  the  Indians  in  1779,  is  in  possession  of  Ed 
ward  D.  Halsey,  Esq.,  of  Morristown,  New  Jersey. 

John  Carmichael  emigrated  to  this  country  from 
Scotland.  He  studied  theology  with  President  Davies, 
and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
May  8,  1760.  On  the  2ist  of  April,  1761,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  the 
Forks  of  the  Brandywine,  Delaware.  He  remained  the 
pastor  of  this  Church  until  his  death  in  1785. 

Like  the  vast  majority  of  the  graduates  of  Princeton, 
Mr.  Carmichael  took  the  side  of  his  country  ;  and  in  1775 
preached  a  sermon  to  the  Militia  of  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  establish  the 
lawfulness  of  self-defence.  This  sermon  was  published, 
and  soon  a  second  edition  was  called  for.  So  effectually 
did  he  succeed  in  instilling  into  the  minds  of  his  people 
his  own  patriotic  spirit,  that  whenever  they  were  called 
into  service,  it  is  said  that  not  a  man  of  them  hesitated 
or  faltered. 

Mr.  Carmichael  was  a  man  of  an  eminently  devout  and 
Christian  spirit. 

John  Clark  received  his  license  from  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  May  9,  1760,  and  was  ordained  and 
settled  at  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware,  October  13,  1762. 
In  1767,  on  account  of  bodily,  infirmity,  he  resigned  his 
charge  and  removed  to  Maryland,  where  he  became  pas 
tor  of  two  churches  in  Baltimore  County.  In  1775  his 

[58] 


1759- 

pastoral  relation  was  again  dissolved,  but  he  continued 
to  preach  to  one  of  his  churches  until  1781.  In  this  year 
he  removed  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  united  churches  of  Bethel  and  Lebanon  in  that  re 
gion.  At  this  time  he  was  past  the  meridian  of  life,  and 
in  very  feeble  health ;  but  in  appearance,  grave,  sedate 
and  venerable ;  and  as  a  preacher,  solemn  and  impres 
sive.  Mr.  Clark  was  accustomed  to  wear  a  big  white 
wig,  which  sometimes  excited  prejudice  against  him.  He 
died  July  13,  1797. 

James  Hunt  was  the  son  of  James  Hunt,  conspicu 
ous  in  the  scenes  of  a  religious  nature  in  Hanover  Coun 
ty,  Virginia,  during  the  times  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick 
in  1760.  In  1761  he  made  a  missionary  tour  through 
North  Carolina,  being  at  this  time  a  member  of  Hanover 
Presbytery.  On  his  return  he  preached  for  some  time  in 
Lancaster  County,  Virginia ;  but  the  people  preferring 
James  Waddel,  he  sought  another  location.  Mr.  Hunt 
passed  the  greater  part  of  his  ministerial  life  in  Mont 
gomery  County,  Maryland,  where  for  many  years  he  was 
at  the  head  of  a  flourishing  classical  school.  William 
Wirt  was  for  some  years  one  of  his  pupils,  and  for  two 
years  a  member  of  his  family.  Mr.  Hunt  took  special 
pains  to  encourage  his  pupil  in  composition  and  for  im 
provement  in  elocution. 

A  son  of  Mr.  Hunt  graduated  in  the  class  of  1786. 

Mr.  Hunt  died  at  Bladensburg  in  1793. 

John  Hunting-toil  was  a  native  of  Norwich,  Con 
necticut.  After  graduating  he  became  preceptor  in 
Moore's  Indian  Charity  School  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut, 
where  he  remained  during  the  years  1761  and  1762.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  over  the  Third  Congrega 
tional  Church  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  September  28, 
1763.  His  early  ministry  gave  much  promise  of  future 
usefulness  and  eminence,  but  the  hopes  of  his  people  and 

[59] 


'759- 

friends  were  soon  disappointed.  He  died  of  a  quick  con 
sumption,  May  30,  1766.  Though  he  had  scarcely  made 
proof  of  his  fine  talents,  yet  he  had  won  a  generous  con 
fidence  in  his  great  abilities,  and  still  more  in  his  fervent 
piety. 

James  Leslie  became  a  merchant  in  New  York. 
In  his  will  he  left  a  fund  for  the  education,  in  the  College, 
of  poor  and  pious  youth  for  the  Gospel  ministry. 

James  Lyon  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presby 
tery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1762,  and  ordained  by  the  same 
body,  December  5,  1764,  to  go  to  Nova  Scotia,  where  he 
laboured  in  the  ministry  for  several  years.  In  1771  he 
removed  to  the  State  of  Maine  and  began  preaching  at 
Machias,  and  in  1782  a  Congregational  Church  was  or 
ganized,  and  Mr.  Lyon  became  its  pastor.  During  the 
stormy  period  of  the  Revolution,  Mr.  Lyon  endured 
great  suffering  and  hardship.  The  lumbering  trade,  on 
which  his  people  chiefly  depended  for  subsistence,  was 
for  a  season  almost  suspended,  and  they  were  reduced  to 
extremity  for  want  of  provisions.  The  pastor  might  then 
be  often  seen  forsaking  his  study,  and  his  half-written 
sermon,  and  going  to  fish  and  dig  clams  to  furnish  food 
for  his  children.  About  1782  or  1783  he  removed  to 
Newtown,  Long  Island,  where  he  supplied  the  Presby 
terian  Church  until  the  spring  of  1785.  He  died  Octo 
ber  12,  1794. 

Mr.  Lyon  published  a  small  Manual  of  Devotion,  a  few  copies  of  which 
are  still  preserved,  and  serve  to  give  a  favorable  impression  of  his  piety 
and  talents. 

Ebenezer  Noyes,  a  native  of  Newbury,  Massachu 
setts,  after  graduating,  studied  medicine  and  practiced  in 
Dover,  Massachusetts,  where  he  died  August  11,  1767, 
aged  28. 

Joshua  Noyes  was  also  from  Newbury,  Massachu- 


'759- 

setts.  He  was  either  a  cousin  or  a  twin  brother  of  the 
above.  He  became  a  Congregational  minister,  and  in 
1759  was  pastor  elect  of  the  Church  in  Kingston,  New 
Hampshire.  He  died  July  8,  1773,  aged  36. 

•  Nathaniel  Noyes  was  born  in  Newbury,  Massa 
chusetts.  In  1760  he  was  ordained  as  a  Congregational 
minister,  and  spent  his  life  chiefly  in  labouring  among  the 
destitute  in  New  England.  He  died  in  December,  1810. 

Thomas  Pierce,  a  native  of  Newbury,  Massachu 
setts,  after  graduating,  studied  theology,  and  in  1762,  was 
ordained  as  a  Congregational  minister,  and  settled  as 
pastor  of  a  church  at  Scarborough,  Maine.  He  died  in 

1775- 

Henry  Sherburne  was  a  son  of  Henry  Sherburne, 
of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire.  The  father  was  a  friend 
of  Gov.  Belcher,  and  intimate  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Mc- 
Clintock,  of  the  Class  of  1751,  and  it  is  probable  that 
through  their  influence  the  son  was  sent  to  Princeton. 
He  never  accomplished  anything  after  graduating,  but 
became  a  spendthrift,  and  ended  his  days  in  the  Ports 
mouth  Almshouse,  retaining  a  ridiculous  aristocratic  fam 
ily  feeling  to  the  last  moments  of  existence. 

Samuel  Spencer.  On  returning  to  North  Carolina, 
his  native  State,  soon  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the 
law.  In  1775,  he  was  appointed  with  Waightstill  Avery, 
of  the  Class  of  1766,  on  the  Provincial  Council  of  Safety. 
Under  the  Colonial  Government,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  and  Clerk  of  Anson  County.  In  1777, 
he  was  one  of  the  three  Judges  of  the  Superior  Courts 
first  elected  under  the  Constitution.  In  1788,  he  was  in 
the  State  Convention  assembled  to  deliberate  upon  the 
Federal  Constitution.  His  talents  were  fully  appreciated 
by  the  country.  Judge  Spencer  died  in  1794.  His  death 
was  caused  by  a  most  singular  circumstance.  He  had 

[61] 


»759- 

been  in  ill-health,  and  was  sitting  in  his  yard  in  the  sun, 
when  a  large  turkey-cock,  attracted  by  some  part  of  his 
clothing,  which  was  red,  attacked  him  most  furiously, 
and  before  he  could  be  rescued,  was  so  severely  wounded 
that  he  died  in  a  short  time  from  the  injuries. 


1760. 

Joseph  Alexander,  one  of  the  Alexander  family  of 
North  Carolina,  was  licensed  by  the  New  Castle  Presby 
tery  in  1767.  The  same  year  he  was  ordained  and  in 
stalled  as  pastor  of  the  Sugar  Creek  Presbyterian  Church 
in  his  native  State.  At  this  place  he  established  a  classi 
cal  school,  which  soon  attained  a  high  reputation.  In  a 
few  years  he  removed  to  South  Carolina. 

The  school  established  by  Mr.  Alexander  in  North 
Carolina,  became  a  college  under  the  title  of  Queen's 
Museum  ;  but  it  was  refused  a  charter  by  George  III. 
After  the  Revolution  it  received  a  charter  from  the 
North  Carolina  Legislature  ;  and  is  known  as  Liberty 
Hall.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  this  college  was  re 
moved  to  South  Carolina,  and  became  incorporated  with 
Mount  Zion  College  at  Winnsboro,  the  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
McCaul,  a  graduate  of  Princeton,  being  the  President. 

Mr.  Alexander  on  his  removal  to  South  Carolina  be 
came  pastor  of  Union  Church,  where  he  remained  until 
1773,  when  he  was  installed  pastor  of  Bullock's  Creek 
Church.  In  this  charge  he  remained  until  1801,  when, 
at  his  own  request,  the  connexion  was  dissolved  ;  and  he 
remained  without  a  pastoral  charge  until  the  close  of 
life. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  as  active  in  the  cause  of  education 
in  South  Carolina,  as  he  had  been  in  North  Carolina  ; 
and  in  1797  the  Legislature  bestowed  a  charter  upon 
Alexandria  College,  named  after  him. 

In  1807,  the  College  of  South  Carolina  conferred  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  upon  Mr.  Alex 
ander. 

Dr.  Alexander  was  a  man  of  small  stature,  and  quite 

[63] 


1760. 

lame.  He  was  endowed  with  fine  talents  and  accomplish 
ments,  and  was  an  uncommonly  animated  and  popular 
preacher.  He  was  an  ardent  patriot  throughout  the 
Revolution.  He  died  July  30,  1809. 

A  small  volume  of  Dr.  Alexander's  sermons  was  published  in  Charles 
ton,  in  1807. 

John  Archer.  After  leaving  college  Mr.  Archer 
studied  divinity,  but  an  affection  of  the  throat  led  him  to 
turn  his  attention  to  the  medical  profession,  and  he  re 
ceived  from  the  College  in  Philadelphia,  the  first  medical 
diploma  ever  issued  in  America,  which  is  still  in  posses 
sion  of  the  family.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution, 
he  had  command  of  a  military  company,  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  Maryland,  his  native  State. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  his  profes 
sion.  As  a  medical  man,  he  commanded  great  influence, 
and  several  discoveries  were  made  by  him,  which  were 
adopted  by  the  profession.  Dr.  Archer  was  a  member 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States 
from  1801  to  1807.  He  died  in  1810. 

Samuel  Blair  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  of 
Faggs'  Manor,  Pennsylvania.  After  graduating,  he  acted 
as  tutor  in  the  college  from  1761  to  1764.  In  1764,  he 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  In  1766, 
he  was  ordained,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
Church  in  Boston.  He  remained  in  this  position  only  a 
year,  his  health  giving  way.  After  leaving  Boston,  he 
retired  to  Germantown,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  estimation  in  which  Mr.  Blair  was  held  may  be 
judged  by  the  fact,  that  when  Dr.  Witherspoon  declined 
the  first  invitation  to  Princeton,  the  Trustees  elected  Mr. 
Blair  President  of  the  College,  although  not  over  twenty- 
six  years  of  age.  Hearing  that  a  change  had  taken  place 
in  Dr.  Witherspoon's  feelings,  Mr.  Blair,  with  remarkable 
self-sacrifice,  declined  the  appointment. 

[64] 


1760. 

Mr.  Blair  was  of  medium  size,  of  fair  and  ruddy  com 
plexion,  and  decidedly  a  fine-looking  man.  The  Univer 
sity  of  Pennsylvania  honored  him  with  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  in  1790.  He  died  in  1818. 

He  published  two  sermons  ;  one  of  which  was  on  the  death  of  the  Rev. 
John  Blair  Smith,  D.D.  Philadelphia,  1799. 

Eiioc  Green  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  in  1762,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Presby 
terian  Church  at  Deerfield,  New  Jersey,  June  9,  1769. 
While  pastor  of  this  church,  he  was  abundant  in  mission 
ary  labor  on  the  Coast  of  New  Jersey.  During  the  Revo 
lution,  he  acted  as  chaplain,  and  died  November  20,  1776, 
from  camp  fever,  contracted  while  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty. 

Alexander  Houston  received  his  license  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Lewes,  about  1763,  and  was  ordained 
in  1764,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Murderkill  and 
Three  Runs  Churches  in  Delaware,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  January  3,  1785.  Mr.  Houston  was  a 
man  greatly  beloved,  and  a  most  earnest  and  labori 
ous  minister.  Many  tears  were  shed  at  his  early  de 
cease. 

Enos  Kelsey,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  after  his  grad 
uation  settled  as  a  merchant  in  Princeton,  where  he  lived 
until  the  close  of  his  life.  During  the  Revolution,  he 
held  a  responsible  office  in  the  Clothier-General's  office, 
under  the  State  government.  There  is  a  letter  of  his 
preserved  in  the  Revolutionary  Correspondence  of  New 
Jersey,  addressed  to  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  dated 
October  4,  1779,  in  which  he  makes  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  clothing  the  Jersey  troops.  He  proposes  to  go 
himself  to  Boston  and  make  the  purchases,  and  thinks 
that  by  the  proposed  scheme,  he  can  save  the  State  ten 
thousand  pounds  in  the  purchase. 

Mr.  Kelsey  was  for  many  years  Treasurer  of  the  col- 
5  ['65  1 


1760. 

lege.     He  was  a  quiet,  highly  respected  citizen.    He  died 
in  Princeton,  in  1809  or 


Benjamin  Hush,  after  graduating,  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Shippen  of  Philadelphia.  From  1766  to  1768  he 
was  pursuing  his  studies  in  Edinburg,  where  he  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  On  his  return  to 
Philadelphia  in  1769,  he  received  the  appointment  of 
Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  Philadelphia  College. 
In  1776  Dr.  Rush  was  a  member  of  the  Continen 
tal  Congress  and  signed  the  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence. 

In  1777,  he  was  appointed  Physician  and  Surgeon- 
General  in  the  Middle  Military  District.  Dr.  Burnet, 
also  a  graduate  of  Princeton,  holding  the  same  position 
in  the  Eastern  District.  In  1787,  Dr.  Rush  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Convention  for  framing  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  He  was  connected  with  many  scientific, 
literary  and  charitable  societies,  and  was  an  eloquent  ad 
vocate  for  the  universal  establishment  of  Free  Schools. 
In  1811,  the  Emperor  of  Russia  sent  him  a  gold  ring,  as 
a  testimony  of  respect  for  his  high  medical  character. 
Dr.  Rush  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  physicians  and 
learned  medical  writers  that  our  country  has  produced. 
In  1789,  Dr.  Rush  was  transferred  to  the  Chair  of  Theory 
and  Practice  of  Medicine  ;  and  in  1791,  the  College  hav 
ing  been  elevated  to  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  he 
was  elected  Professor  of  the  Institutes  and  Practice  of 
Medicine  and  of  Clinical  Practice  —  to  which,  in  1796,  he 
added  the  Professorship  of  Physic. 

Dr.  Rush  collected  his  occasional  writings  into  seven  octavo  volumes. 

Volumes  I.,  II.,  III.,  IV.,  contain  Medical  Observations. 

Volume  V.,  Medical  Inquiries  and  Observations  upon  the  Diseases  of 
the  Mind. 

Volume  VI.,  Sixteen  Introductory  Lectures  to  Courses  on  Medicine, 
with  two  Lectures  upon  the  pleasures  of  the  Senses  and  of  the  Mind.  1811. 
8vo. 

Volume  VII.,  Essays,  Literary,  Moral  and  Philosophical. 

Besides  these,  Dr.  Rush  edited  many  medical  works. 

[66] 


1760. 

John  Slemmoiis  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Donegal  in  1763,  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Car 
lisle  in  1766,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Churches  of  State  Ridge  and  Chanceford,  Maryland. 
He  resigned  his  charge  previous  to  1798,  and  died  in 
1814. 

Jonathan  Bayard  Smith,  a  Philadelphian  by  birth, 
after  graduating,  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  pursued 
the  study  of  law.  At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution  he 
became  a  prominent  friend  of  Independence.  In  1776, 
Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  a  Conference 
called  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  new  Constitution  for 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  one  of  the  Committee  (Dr.  Ben 
jamin  Rush  being  another)  to  draft  an  Address  to  the 
People,  which  resulted  in  a  convention  and  a  new  Con 
stitution.  He  was  a  Member  of  the  Continental  Con 
gress  from  Pennsylvania  in  1777  and  1778. 

Mr.  Smith  made  a  large  donation  of  books  to  the  li 
brary  of  the  College,  which  fact  should  be  kept  on  re 
cord,  since  so  few  of  the  Alumni  thus  remember  their 
Alma  Mater.  He  died  in  1812. 

Josiah  Thatcher  was  installed  pastor  of  a  Congre 
gational  Church  at  Gorham,  Maine,  October  28,  1767, 
where  he  remained  until  April,  1781,  when  he  resigned 
his  charge.  Without  changing  his  residence,  Mr.  Thatch 
er  immediately  entered  into  public  life,  doing  a  large 
business  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace — representing  the  town 
of  Gorham  for  eleven  years,  and  as  Senator,  the  County 
of  Cumberland,  in  the  General  Court  of  Maine,  and  hold 
ing  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
from  1784  to  1799. 

Mr.  Thatcher  experienced  fierce  opposition  during 
much  of  his  ministry,  but  was  subsequently  greatly  res 
pected  and  honored. 

He  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Yale  in  1765. 
He  died  December  25,  1799. 

[67] 


1760. 

Amos  Thompson  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  in 
1764.  Soon  after  being  ordained,  having  heard  that  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  had  adopted  some  novel  opinions 
in  theology,  he  took  horse  and  travelled  to  Newport  to 
converse  with  this  celebrated  man,  and,  if  possible,  to 
convince  him  of  his  errors.  The  result  was,  that  after 
discussing  the  disputed  points  for  several  days,  he  came 
away  a  thorough  convert  to  Dr.  Hopkins'  system,  to 
which  he  tenaciously  adhered  until  his  dying  day,  and 
which  he  preached  on  all  occasions. 

Soon  after  this,  he  removed  to  Virginia,  and  settled  in 
Loudon  County.  The  following  story  is  told  of  him  by 
Dr.  A.  Alexander.  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  gigantic 
frame,  but  not  in  the  least  inclined  to  corpulency.  His 
bodily  strength  was  also  prodigious.  Upon  one  occasion 
an  old  Baptist  clergyman  named  Thomas,  residing  in  the 
same  part  of  Virginia,  had  been  threatened  with  personal 
violence  by  a  set  of  rough  men,  if  he  should  ever  show 
his  face  in  a  certain  pulpit.  The  old  man  took  a  journey 
of  thirty  miles  to  get  the  help  of  Amos  Thompson. 
Thompson  being  fearless  and  fond  of  adventure,  at  once 
agreed  to  go  and  preach  for  him.  When  they  arrived, 
great  multitudes  had  gathered,  some  to  hear  and  some  to 
see  the  sport.  While  Mr.  Thompson  was  at  prayer,  a 
company  of  men  armed  with  bludgeons  .entered  the 
house  and  took  their  position  just  before  the  pulpit ;  but 
when  they  saw  the  brawny  arm  and  undaunted  appear 
ance  of  the  preacher,  they  became  very  quiet.  At  the 
close  of  the  discourse,  Thompson  addressed  himself  di 
rectly  to  these  men — expostulated  with  them,  and  declar 
ing  that  he  would  spend  all  the  little  property  he  pos 
sessed  in  seeing  that  justice  was  done.  He  concluded 
by  saying  that,  although  he  was  a  preacher,  and  a  man 
of  peace,  he  held  it  to  be  right,  when  attacked,  to  defend 
himself,  which  he  was  ready  and  able  to  do. 

When  the  meeting  was  ended,  he  went  out  of  the 
house  and  enquired  for  the  captain  of  the  band.  Being 

[68] 


1760. 

led  to  the  spot  where  they  were  collected,  he  approached 
this  man,  and  asked  him  to  go  aside  with  him.  A  stout, 
bold-looking  man  walked  off  with  him  towards  the  wood, 
on  entering  which  he  appeared  to  be  panic-struck,  stop 
ped  and  raised  his  club.  Thompson  said,  "  Fie,  man  ! 
what  can  you  do  with  that  ?"  and  in  a  moment  wrested 
it  out  of  his  hand,  adding  that  he  intended  no  violence, 
but  that  if  so  disposed,  he  could  hurl  him  to  the  earth  in 
a  moment. 

The  old  Baptist  minister  was  never  troubled  afterwards 
by  these  men.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Thompson  was  never 
seen  without  a  pipe  in  his  mouth.  He  died  suddenly  in 
1801. 

[69] 


David  Caldwell,  the  son  of  a  respectable  farmer  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade  ;  but  on  being  converted,  he  earnestly  desired  an 
education,  that  he  might  preach  the  Gospel.  His  thirst 
for  information  became  a  passion,  and  he  resolved  to  sac 
rifice  time,  labour,  and  all  the  money  that  he  possessed, 
in  order  to  attain  his  end. 

He  graduated  the  year  that  President  Davies  died, 
being  about  thirty-six  years  old.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  June  8, 
1763,  and  the  same  summer  visited  North  Carolina  as  a 
missionary.  But  it  was  not  until  1768  that  he  became  the 
pastor  of  the  united  Churches  of  Buffalo  and  Alamance, 
in  North  Carolina.  Here  he  commenced  a  classical 
school  in  connection  with  his  charge,  it  being  the  second 
school  of  permanence  in  North  Carolina ;  the  first  being 
the  school  of  Rev.  Joseph  Alexander,  already  noticed. 
Many  of  his  pupils  became  eminent  in  after  life.  Five 
were  governors  of  States ;  a  number  were  promoted  to 
the  Bench  ;  about  fifty  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel ; 
a  large  number  were  physicians  and  lawyers.  Amidst 
his  many  duties  he  found  time  also  to  practice  medicine. 
Dr.  Rush,  who  was  in  the  class  before  him,  was  his  life 
long  correspondent. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  a  warm  and  firm  friend  of  Indepen 
dence,  and  he  had  his  full  share  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
times.  His  house  was  plundered,  his  library  and  valuable 
papers  destroyed,  his  property  stolen,  and  he  himself, 
watched  for  as  a  felon,  passed  whole  nights  in  the  forest. 

The  first  blood -shed  of  the  Revolution  was  not  at 
Lexington,  but  on  the  Alamance  in  North  Carolina,  May 


1761. 

1 6,  1771,  in  an  engagement  between  Governor  Tryon's 
troops  and  the  Regulators,  as  they  were  called.  These 
Regulators  were  not  adventurers,  but  the  sturdy  patri 
otic  members  of  three  Presbyterian  congregations,  all  of 
them  having  as  their  pastors  graduates  of  Princeton.  Mr. 
Caldwell  was  one  of  them,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
battle  was  on  the  ground  going  from  one  side  to  the 
other  endeavouring  to  prevent  the  catastrophy. 

When  the  University  of  North  Carolina  was  establish 
ed,  Mr.  Caldwell  was  fixed  upon  as  the  first  President, 
but  he  declined  the  honour.  He  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  University  of 
North  Carolina  in  1810.  Dr.  Caldwell  was  a  member  of 
the  Convention  of  1776,  which  formed  the  State  Conven 
tion,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Convention  to  consider 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  in  1778.  These 
were  the  only  representative  offices  he  ever  held.  After 
a  long  life  of  usefulness  and  honour,  he  died,  August  25, 
1824. 

Isaac  Handy  was  born  December  19,  1743.  He  was 
the  son  of  Colonel  Isaac  Handy,  of  Princess  Anne,  Mary 
land,  a  man  of  extensive  landed  possessions  and  great 
prominence  in  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  After 
his  graduation,  Mr.  Handy  studied  law,  and  was  admit 
ted  to  practice,  and  continued  to  practice  his  profession 
in  Princess  Anne  until  his  death  in  1773.  He  married 
Esther  Winder,  the  daughter  of  Captain  William  Win 
der,  a  man  of  fortune,  and  an  Elder  in  the  Wimico  Pres 
byterian  Church.  Her  brother  was  Governor  of  Mary 
land  from  1812  to  1815. 

Thomas  Henderson,  a  native  of  Monmouth  Coun 
ty,  New  Jersey,  studied  medicine  and  practiced  in  his 
native  State.  He  was  early  appointed  a  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  From  1779  to  1780  he  was  a 
Delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress  from  New  Jersey ; 
two  out  of  the  three  delegates  of  that  session  from  New 


1761. 

Jersey  being  graduates  of  Princeton.  Mr.  Henderson 
was  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  under  the  Consti 
tution,  from  1795  to  1/97.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling- 
worth,  and  of  unblemished  reputation.  For  many  years 
he  was  an  Elder  in  Mr.  Tennent's  Church  at  Free 
hold. 

William  Jauiicey  was  a  son  of  James  Jauncey,  of 
New  York  city,  a  leading  importer  before  the  Revolu 
tion,  and  a  noted  royalist.  The  son,  after  graduating, 
became  a  merchant,  and  from  1797  to  1802  he  was  gover 
nor  of  the  New  York  Hospital. 

Nathan  Ker  came  to  Princeton  from  the  congrega 
tion  of  William  Tennent,  of  Freehold,  New  Jersey.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  in 
1762,  and  ordained  August  17,  1763,  and  in  1766  was  set 
tled  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Goshen, 
New  York,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  December  14,  1804.  Mr.  Ker  was  a  zealous 
Whig  in  the  Revolution,  and  served  for  some  time  as  a 
volunteer  Chaplain  in  the  army.  He  was  a  man  of  well- 
balanced  and  cultivated  mind,  enlarged  and  liberal  views, 
earnest  piety,  and  extensive  influence. 

Mr.  Ker  published  a  Sermon  in  the  American  Preacher  (vol.  iv.)  entitled 
"God's  Sovereignty  in  conferring  Means  and  Grace."  1793. 

Thomas  McCracken  was  ordained  by  the  Presby 
tery  of  Lewes,  in  1768,  and  died  in  1770. 

David  Rice.  The  fund  which  supported  Mr.  Rice 
failed  while  he  was  in  College,  and  his  wardrobe  became 
so  shabby  that  he  meditated  leaving ;  but  this  coming  to 
the  ears  of  Richard  Stockton,  Esq.,  he  sent  for  the  young 
man  and  said  to  him,  "  I  have  in  a  literal  sense  ventured 
my  bread  on  the  waters,  having  a  ship  at  sea.  If  it  foun 
ders,  you  must  repay  me  the  sum  I  advance  you  ;  if  it  re 
turns  safe,  I  will  venture  in  the  figurative  sense."  Two 


1761. 

years  after  Mr.  Rice  offered  to  repay  him,  but  he  refused, 
affirming  that  he  had  been  repaid  long  ago. 

Mr.  Rice  studied  theology  with  John  Todd,  a  gradu 
ate  of  the  College,  and  was  ordained  by  Hanover  Pres 
bytery,  December,  1763.  He  laboured  for  some  years  in 
Virginia,  his  native  State,  and  during  the  Revolution 
took  a  warm  and  decided  stand  in  favour  of  his  country. 
He  took  also  an  active  part  in  the  establishment  of  Hamp- 
den  Sidney  Academy,  which  afterwards  became  a  college. 

In  1783  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  there  organized 
and  took  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Concord  at  Dan 
ville,  Cane  Run,  and  the  Forks  of  Dick's  River.  Mr.  Rice 
may  be  considered  the  father  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Kentucky.  In  1785  a  general  meeting  for  Conference 
was  held,  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  and  completing 
a  regular  Presbyterian  organization  in  the  State.  Noth 
ing  so  tended  to  the  firm  establishment  of  that  Church 
in  the  far  West  as  this  Conference  ;  and  Mr.  Rice  was 
the  mover  and  master  spirit  of  the  whole,  and  was  Chair 
man  of  the  meeting — Mr.  Caleb  Wallace,  another  gradu 
ate  of  Princeton,  being  the  clerk.  He  was  also  the  foun 
der,  or  one  of  the  founders,  of  Transylvania  Academy, 
which  afterwards  became  Transylvania  University.  In 
1792  he  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  to  frame  a  State 
Constitution.  A  complete  biography  of  this  man  would 
necessarily  embrace  the  most  interesting  events  in  the 
literary,  political,  and  religious  movements  of  Kentucky 
in  its  early  days.  He  died  honoured  and  lamented  in 
1816. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Rice  are,  A  Circular  Letter  to  his  Ministerial 
Brethren  on  the  Example  of  Paul.  An  Essay  on  Baptism  ;  1789.  A  Lec 
ture  on  the  Divine  Decrees;  1791.  Slavery  Inconsistent  with  Justice; 
1792.  A  Sermon  on  the  Opening  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky.  An  Epistle 
to  the  Citizens  of  Kentucky  professing  Christianity,  especially  those  that 
are,  or  have  been,  denominated  Presbyterians;  1805.  A  Second  Epistle 
of  the  same  nature  ;  1808.  Letters  on  the  Evidences,  Nature,  and  Effects 
of  Christianity,  published  in  the  Weekly  Recorder,  at  the  age  of  81  ;  1814. 

John  Rosbrough  came  from   Ireland  in  1735,  and 

[73] 


1761. 

having  learned  a  trade,  he  married ',  but  losing  his'  wife, 
his  thoughts  were  turned  to  serious  things,  and  after  his 
conversion  he  entered  the  college,  although  advanced  in 
life.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns 
wick,  August  18,  1762.  On  the  nth  of  December,  1764, 
he  was  ordained,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Greenwich, 
Oxford  and  Mansfield  Churches,  New  Jersey.  In  April, 
1769,  he  removed  to  the  Forks  of  Delaware,  and  October 
28,  1772,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  that  locality  ;  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in 
1777. 

He  was  a  warm  friend  to  the  country's  liberties.  In 
the  dark  days  of  the  retreat  through  New  Jersey,  he 
joined  a  company  of  his  neighbours  as  a  private  soldier, 
but  received  a  commission  as  Chaplain  soon  after.  One 
day  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Trenton,  he  was  out  looking 
for  his  horse,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  body  of 
Hessians  under  British  command.  He  begged  for  the 
sake  of  his  dear  wife  and  children,  that  they  would  spare 
his  life.  He  quickly  found,  however,  that  his  request 
was  to  be  denied,  and  that  the  bloody  deed  was  to  be 
performed  without  delay.  He  instantly  knelt  down,  and 
in  imitation  of  his  blessed  Master,  prayed  for  the  forgive 
ness  of  his  murderers.  And  scarcely  had  this  prayer 
passed  from  his  lips  before  a  deadly  weapon  pierced  his 
body,  and  he  lay  struggling  in  death. 

The  last  letter  his  wife  received  from  him  is  as  follows : 
"  My  dear,  I  am  still  yours.  I  have  but  a  minute  to  tell 
you  that  the  company  are  all  well.  We  are  going  over 
to  attack  the  enemy.  You  would  think  it  strange  to  see 
your  husband,  an  old  man,  riding  with  a  French  Fusee 
slung  at  his  back.  This  may  be  the  last  you  shall  ever 
receive  from  your  husband.  I  have  committed  myself, 
you,  and  the  dear  pledges  of  our  mutual  love,  to  God. 
As  I  am  out  of  doors  I  can  write  no  more.  I  send  my 
compliments  to  you,  my  dear,  and  to  the  children. 
Friends  pray  for  us.  I  am  your  loving  husband." 

Mr.  Rosbrough  was  above  the  medium  size,  a  portly, 

[74] 


1761. 

t 

noble,  fine-looking  man.  He  was  a  good  preacher,  able 
and  eloquent,  though  a  defect  in  his  speech  caused  him 
sometimes  to  stammer. 

James  Thompson  served  as  tutor  from  1762  to  1770. 
By  whom  he  was  licensed,  I  have  no  means  of 'discover 
ing.  In  1767,  he  occasionally  supplied  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

Lawrence  Van  Derveer  belonged  to  one  of  the 
old  Dutch  families  of  the  county  of  Somerset,  New  Jer 
sey.  After  graduating,  he  studied  medicine,  and  settled 
in  the  vicinity  of  Baskingridge,  New  Jersey,  and  acquired 
a  high  reputation  for  skill  in  his  profession.  He  was  the 
father  of  Henry  Van  Derveer,  who  graduated  in  1811. 
Dr.  Van  Derveer  died  in  1815. 

Jahleel  Woodbridge,  a  son  of  Timothy  Wood- 
bridge,  was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts.  After 
graduating,  he  returned  to  his  native  town,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  soon  became  a  promi 
nent  man,  and  was  the  incumbent  of  many  town  offices. 
He  served  in  both  branches  of  the  State  Legislature  from 
1780  to  1784.  From  1781  to  1787,  he  was  Assistant  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  ;  and  Presiding  Judge 
from  1787  to  1795  ;  he  was  also  Judge  of  Probate  from 
1787  to  1795.  Mr.  Woodbridge  married  Lucy,  daughter 
of  President  Edwards.  He  died  April  13,  1796,  having 
been  esteemed  for  his  good  sense,  integrity  and  piety. 

[75] 


1762. 

Hugh  Alison,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  after  his 
graduation,  was  for  some  time  engaged  as  a  teacher  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina.  He  married,  and  removed 
to  James  Island,  taking  with  him  a  number  of  young 
men,  with  a  view  to  superintend  their  education.  He 
also  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  on  that  is 
land.  Just  before  the  Revolution  he  returned  to  Charles 
ton,  where  he  died  of  consumption,  in  1781. 

Absalom  Bainbridge  was  a  native  of  Hunterdon 
County,  New  Jersey.  After  graduating,  he  studied  medi 
cine,  and  practiced  for  a  number  of  years  in  Princeton, 
New  Jersey.  He  then  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  he  practiced  for  more  than  twenty  years.  Dr.  Bain- 
bridge  was  the  father  of  Commodore  Bainbridge,  of  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  the  maternal  grandfather  of  the 
Rev.  John  Maclean,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Ex-president  of  the  Col 
lege.  He  died  in  1807. 

Ebenezer  Davenport  became  a  Congregational 
minister,  and  settled  over  the  First  Church  at  Green 
wich,  Connecticut,  in  1767,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  in  1773. 

Edward  Gantt,  a  native  of  Prince  George  County, 
Maryland,  after  graduating,  studied  medicine,  and  prac 
ticed  in  Somerset  County,  Maryland.  In  1770,  while  in 
full  practice,  he  went  to  England,  and  received  Holy 
Orders.  He  officiated  for  a  while  in  his  native  parish, 
and  in  1776  went  to  All  Hallows  Parish,  Worcester  Coun 
ty.  At  the  end  of  four  years,  he  returned  to  his  native 

[76] 


1762. 

parish  again,  became  its  Rector,  and  sustained  himself 
on  his  estate  by  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1795,  he 
removed  to  Georgetown,  after  it  had  become  a  part  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  and  there  exercised  his  minis 
try.  He  was  repeatedly  chosen  Chaplain  to  the  United 
States  Senate  after  1800.  About  1807,  he  removed  to 
Kentucky.  In  1836,  he  was  living  with  his  daughter  near 
Louisville,  a  hale,  healthy  old  man  of  ninety. 

Ebenezer  Hazard  returned  to  Philadelphia,  his  na 
tive  city,  after  graduating.  He  was  Postmaster-General 
of  the  United  States  from  1782  until  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution,  in  1789. 

He  died  June  13,  1817. 

Mr.  Hazard  published  a  valuable  historical  work,  which  is  often  quoted, 
entitled,  Historical  Collection  :  consisting  of  State  papers  and  other  au 
thentic  documents,  intended  as  materials  for  a  history  of  the  United  States. 
The  first  volume  was  published  in  Philadelphia,  in  4to,  in  1791,  and  the 
second  volume  in  1794.  He  also  published,  Remarks  on  a  Report  con 
cerning  the  Western  Indians,  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collection. 

John  McCrea,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  was  a  son  of  the 
Rev.  James  McCrea,  the  pastor  and  founder  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  at  Lamington,  New  Jersey.  After  his 
father's  death,  he  removed  in  1773  to  the  neighbourhood 
of  Fort  Edward,  New  York.  He  was  a  brother  of  Miss 
Jane  McCrea,  whose  tragical  murder  by  the  Indians,  in 
1777,  made  such  a  noise  at  the  time.  After  her  death, 
Col.  McCrea,  removed  with  his  family  to  the  city  of  Al 
bany.  His  nephew,  Col.  James  McCrea,  was  living  at 
Saratoga  in  1823. 

James  Manning  shortly  after  leaving  college  was 
ordained  as  a  Baptist  minister,  and  settled  in  Morristown, 
New  Jersey,  near  to  the  place  where  he  was  born.  To 
wards  the  close  of  the  year  1763,  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Warren,  Rhode  Island.  Soon  after 
settling  here,  he  established  a  Latin  school.  Feeling  the 
need  of  an  institution  of  a  higher  character,  he  proposed 

[77] 


1762. 

to  several  influential  gentlemen  of  the  Baptist  denomi 
nation,  assembled  at  Newport,  the  establishment  of  "  a 
seminary  of  polite  literature,  subject  to  the  government 
of  the  Baptists."  A  charter  was  granted  by  the  Legisla 
ture  of  the  Colony  in  1764,  to  "  Rhode  Island  College," 
and  in  1765,  Mr.  Manning  was  elected  President  and  Pro 
fessor  of  Languages.  In  1770  the  college  was  removed 
from  Warren  to  Providence. 

From  the  first,  President  Manning  took  a  deep  interest 
in  the  affairs  of  the  country,  and  was  actively  engaged 
throughout  the  Revolution.  In  1786,  he  was  chosen  to 
represent  Rhode  Island  in  the  Continental  Congress.  In 
1785,  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Di 
vinity  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Manning  was  a  laborious  and  faithful  minister  of 
Christ,  and  it  is  wonderful  that  he  could  have  performed 
such  an  amount  of  labour  ;  and  it  is  only  to  be  accounted 
for  from  the  fact,  that  he  was  gifted  with  a  versatility 
and  readiness  of  mind,  which  enabled  him  to  preach  ad 
mirably  with  but  little  preparation,  and  to  accommodate 
himself  with  great  facility  to  every  variety  of  circum 
stances.  He  died  suddenly,  July  24,  1791. 

Thomas  Martin  was  a  brother  of  Gov.  Alexander 
Martin,  of  North  Carolina,  of  the  Class  of  1756.  After 
leaving  Princeton,  he  taught  school  in  Virginia,  and 
President  Madison  was  one  of  his  pupils.  At  one  time 
he  was  an  inmate  of  the  family  of  Madison's  father.  Mr. 
Martin  about  this  time  took  orders  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  in  1767,  became  Rector  of  a  church  in  Or 
ange  County,  Virginia,  but  his  labours  were  of  short  du 
ration,  as  he  died  soon  after  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
his  parish,  towards  the  close  of  1769  or  the  beginning  of 
1770. 

Francis  Peppard  received  ordination  about  1764, 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Mendham,  New 

[78] 


176-2. 

Jersey.  In  1766,  he  removed  to  Orange  County,  New 
York,  and  succeeded  Enos  Ayres  as  pastor  of  the  Church 
at  Bethlehem,  having-  also  charge  of  a  church  at  New 
Windsor.  A  few  years  later,  Mr.  Peppard  became  pas 
tor  of  the  churches  at  Allen's  Township,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Hardwick,  New  Jersey.  He  died  while  in  this 
charge  in  1797. 

Joseph  Periam,  after  graduating,  became  tutor  in 
the  College.  While  in  this  position  he  embraced  Bish 
op  Berkeley's  theor}^  denying  the  existence  of  the  Mate 
rial  Universe.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  who  was  inti 
mate  with  him,  was  in  great  danger  of  making  shipwreck 
of  his  religious  principles.  After  leaving  the  College, 
Mr.  Periam  taught  school  for  several  years,  and  then 
studied  theology,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York  in  1/74.  In  1775,  his  license  was  withdrawn 
by  the  Presbytery.  Soon  after,  he  was  appointed  Quar 
ter-master  in  the  First  Battalion  of  the  New  Jersey  Brig 
ade.  In  1778,  he  taught  an  academy  in  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey.  He  died  October  8,  1780. 

It  is  thought  that  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Periam's  li 
cense  by  the  Presbytery,  was  not  on  account  of  his  pecu 
liar  views,  as  we  find  Dr.  Bellamy  writing  of  him  in 
1773  :  "  Mr.  Periam  has  become  a  very  serious  man  since 
you  saw  him."  And  Dr.  Jedediah  Chapman  wrote  in 
1772  :  "  He  is  a  very  ingenious  young  gentleman — I  trust 
a  truly  humble  and  pious  Christian." 

Thomas  Rust  on  studied  medicine  in  Philadelphia, 
Benjamin  Rush  being  his  fellow  student.  He  afterwards 
went  to  Edinburg,  where  he  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine,  and  in  1767  published,  in  Edinburg, 
a  work  on  Innoculation,  which  was  probably  his  thesis 
on  receiving  his  degree. 

Jonathan  Dickinson  Sergeant  a  grandson  of 
President  Dickinson,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 

[79] 


1762. 

the  bar  in  New  Jersey,  his  native  State.  But  the  Revolu 
tion  coming  on,  his  patriotic  zeal  and  eminent  talents 
soon  recommended  him  to  the  confidence  of  the  people 
for  public  employment.  He  was  elected  to  the  Conti 
nental  Congress,  and  took  his  seat  a  few  days  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed.  He  was  after 
wards  repeatedly  elected  to  the  same  position.  Before 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  transferred  his  residence  to  the 
City  of  Philadelphia,  and  soon  became  a  conspicuous 
member  of  the  Bar  of  that  city.  Mr.  Sergeant  was  the 
first  Attorney-General  of  Pennsylvania,  after  the  Declara 
tion  of  Independence.  He  resided  in  Philadelphia  until 
1793,  when  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow  fever. 

Mr.  Sergeant  was  endowed  with  a  powerful  and  active 
mind,  and  his  moral  qualities  were  not  less  distinguished 
and  estimable  than  his  intellectual. 

Hezekiali  Smith.  Soon  after  his  graduation,  Mr. 
Smith  visited  the  Southern  States  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health.  While  at  Charleston,  he  was  ordained  as  a  Bap 
tist  Minister.  On  November  12,  1766,  Mr.  Smith  was 
recognized  as  the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Haver- 
hill,  Massachusetts,  of  which  he  remained  the  honoured 
pastor  for  a  period  of  forty  years.  He  was  a  life-long 
friend  of  his  class-mate  Dr.  Manning,  and  did  much  for 
the  endowment  of  Brown  University.  Mr.  Smith  was  a 
native  of  Long  Island.  In  1776,  he  was  appointed  Chap 
lain  in  the  Continental  Army,  which  post  he  held  for 
four  years.  While  in  this  position,  he  became  the  inti 
mate  friend  of  Washington,  and  possessed  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  whole  army. 
He  repeatedly  exposed  his  life  in  battle,  and  was  ever 
among  the  foremost  in  encouraging  the  soldiers,  and  in 
soothing  the  sorrows  of  the  wounded  and  dying. 

Dr.  Smith  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  large 
and  well  proportioned  inspiring  respect  by  his  dignity, 
and  winning  affection  by  his  affability  and  grace.  He 
was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Yale  in  1772, 

[80] 


1762. 

and  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Rhode  Island  College  in  1797.  He  died  suddenly, 
January  22,  1805. 

6  [81] 


1763. 

James  Boyd  was  ordained  by  the  First  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia  in  1770,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Churches  of  Newtown  and  Bensalem,  Penn 
sylvania  where  he  remained  for  forty-three  years.  His 
influence  was  widely  felt,  In  1781,  he  was  elected  a 
Trustee  of  the  College  at  Princeton,  which  position  he 
resigned  in  1800.  He  died  in  1813. 

John  Close  was  licensed  by  Suffolk  Presbytery  soon 
after  his  graduation  and  immediately  visited  the  South, 
where  he  did  good  service  in  North  and  South  Carolina 
as  a  Missionary.  Returning  to  the  North  he  was  called 
and  ordained  as  colleague  to  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime  at  Hun- 
tington,  Long  Island,  October  30,  1766.  He  was  dis 
missed  from  this  charge,  April  4,  1773,  and  took  charge 
of  a  church  at  New  Windsor,  New  York,  where  he  re 
mained  until  1796.  He  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  de 
gree  at  Yale  in  1771.  The  few  last  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  at  Waterford,  New  York,  where  he  died  in  1813. 

Robert  Cooper  came  from  Ireland.  There  is  a 
tradition  among  his  descendants  that  he  learned  the  busi 
ness  of  plough-making  to  assist  him  in  getting  an  educa 
tion.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle, 
February  22,  1765.  The  same  year  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Middle 
Spring,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  laboured  faithfully  for 
thirty  years.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  con 
ferred  upon  him  by  Dickinson  College  in  1792.  His  pas 
toral  relation  was  dissolved  April  12,  1797,  on  account 
of  ill  health. 

[82] 


1763. 

During  the  American  Revolution,  Dr.  Cooper  was  a 
zealous  Whig,  and  often  visited  the  army  to  exhort  them 
to  activity  and  fidelity.  Indeed  he  is  said  to  have  been 
the  captain  of  a  company  at  one  time.  He  preached 
"  before  Colonel  Montgomery's  battalion  under  arms," 
near  Shippensburg,  Pennsylvania,  August  31,  1775,  a 
sermon  entitled  "  Courage  in  a  Good  Cause/'  This  dis 
course  was  published.  Dr.  Cooper  was  a  short,  spare 
man,  with  a  trace  of  melancholy  in  his  face.  He  died 
April  5,  1805. 

Beside  the  sermon  noticed  above,  Dr.  Cooper  published  "  A  Tract,"  en- 
titled  "  Signs  of  the  Times." 

David  Cowell  was  born  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey, 
and  was  a  nephew  of  the  Rev.  David  Cowell,  that  long 
and  active  friend  and  Trustee  of  the  College.  After 
graduating,  he  studied  medicine  in  Philadelphia,  took 
his  degree,  and  returned  to  Trenton,  where  he  practiced 
until  his  death.  For  two  years  he  was  senior  physician 
and  surgeon  in  military  hospitals.  Dr.  Cowell  under 
took  to  draft  an  outline  of  his  will  while  suffering  under 
an  attack  of  quinsey,  and  within  a  few  hours  of  its  fatal 
termination.  Unable  to  articulate,  he  hastened  to  make 
a  rough  outline  of  his  intentions,  which  he  doubtless 
hoped  to  have  had  put  into  form  by  another  hand  ;  but 
he  was  compelled  by  the  force  of  the  disease  to  have  the 
paper  copied  in  the  incomplete  terms  in  which  he  had 
drawn  it.  It  began  :  "  I,  Doctor  David  Cowell,  being  of 
sound  judgment,  but  not  able  to  talk  much."  In  his  will 
he  left  one  hundred  pounds  to  the  College  of  New  Jer 
sey  ;  and  "  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  Amer 
ica,  one  hundred  pounds,  if  they  settled  themselves  at 
Lamberton,"  a  suburb  of  Trenton.  His  death  occurred 
December  18,  1783. 

John  Craighead  received  ordination  from  Donegal 
Presbytery,  about  1767,  and  was  settled  as  pastor  of 
Rocky  Spring  Church,  Pennsylvania.  It  is  said  that  he 

[83] 


1763. 

fought  and  preached  alternately.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  war  he  raised  a  company  from  the  members  of  his 
charge,  and  joined  Washington's  army  in  New  Jersey. 
Mr.  Craighead  was  a  humourist,  and  a  good  many  good 
jokes  are  told  of  him.  One  day  going  into  battle  with 
his  friend  and  class-mate,  Robert  Cooper,  a  cannon  ball 
struck  a  tree  near  him,  a  splinter  of  which  nearly  knocked 
him  down.  "  God  bless  me  !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Cooper ; 
"  you  were  nearly  knocked  to  staves."  "  Oh,  yes,"  was 
his  reply  ;  "  and,  though  you  are  a  cooper,  you  could  not 
have  set  me  up." 

Mr.  Craighead  remained  at  Rocky  Spring  until  1798, 
when  he  resigned  his  charge,  and  died  April  20,  1799. 
The  Rev.  Francis  Herron,  D.D.,  was  his  successor. 

Samuel  Eakin  was  ordained  by  the  Second  Pres 
bytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  1770.  From  1773  to  1777,  he 
was  settled  at  Penn's  Neck  Presbyterian  Church  in  West 
Jersey.  But  rendering  himself  obnoxious  to  the  Tories 
by  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  American  liberty,  he  was 
obliged  to  withdraw.  He  was  the  idol  of  the  soldiers. 
Wherever  there  was  a  military  training,  or  an  order  is 
sued  for  the  soldiers  to  march,  he  was,  if  in  his  power, 
always  there  to  address  them,  and  by  his  eloquence, 
would  excite  their  emotions  of  patriotism  to  the  highest 
pitch.  It  is  related  of  him,  that  he  was  so  warm  a  Whig 
that  he  never  entered  the  pulpit  without  imploring  the 
Lord  "  to  teach  our  people  to  fight  and  give  them  cour 
age  and  perseverance  to  overcome  their  enemies."  Mr. 
Eakin  was  an  extraordinary  man,  and  next  to  Mr.  White- 
field,  esteemed  the  most  eloquent  preacher  who  had  ever 
been  in  the  country.  He  died  in  1784. 

Ezekiel  Emerson,  a  native  of  Uxbridge,  Massachu 
setts,  was  ordained  pastor  of  a  Congregational  Church  in 
Georgetown,  Maine,  July  3,  1763.  He  retired  from  the 
ministry  in  1810,  on  account  of  infirmity,  and  died  No 
vember  9,  1815,  aged  80. 


1763. 

James  Jauncey,  a  brother  of  William  Jauncey,  of 
the  Class  of  1761,  became  a  prominent  merchant  in  New 
York  City.  At  first  he  took  the  side  of  the  Colonies, 
and  was  an  associate  of  Jay  on  the  Committee  of  Fifty. 
In  1775,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Assembly  of 
New  York.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  took 
the  side  of  the  king.  Mr.  Jauncey  was  a  leading  mem 
ber  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  York,  and  a 
warm  friend  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers,  who  was  greatly 
grieved  at  his  taking  sides  against  the  country.  Mr. 
Jauncey  retired  to  England,  and  died  in  1790. 

John  Lathrop,  a  native  of  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
was  for  some  months  after  his  graduation  engaged  as  an 
assistant  teacher  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wheelock,  in  Moore's 
Indian  Charity  School  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut ;  and  for 
several  months  he  was  a  missionary  among  the  Indians. 
On  the  1 8th  of  May,  1768,  he  was  ordained,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  Old  North  Church  in  Boston.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Revolution,  in  1775,  he  was  compelled  to 
leave  his  charge,  but  returned  to  it  in  1776.  In  the  mean 
time  their  house  of  worship  had  been  destroyed,  he  there 
fore  accepted  an  invitation  to  preach  in  the  New  Brick 
Church  as  an  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pemberton.  After 
Dr.  Pemberton's  death,  the  two  societies  were  united, 
and  Mr.  Lathrop  became  their  pastor — this  was  in  June, 
1779.  Here  he  continued  till  the  close  of  his  life.  Dr. 
Lathrop  adopted  Unitarian  views,  but  at  what  period  is 
not  certain.  His  preaching  was  practical  rather  than 
doctrinal.  He  was  an  ardent  patriot.  In  1778,  he  be 
came  a  Fellow  of  the  Corporation  of  Harvard,  which  he 
held  during  life.  He  was  an  officer  in  many  public  and 
charitable  institutions.  In  1785,  he  was  honoured  with 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  the  University  of 
Edinburg.  He  died  January  4,  1816. 

Dr.  Lathrop's  publications  are  :  A  Sermon  occasioned  by  the  Boston 
Massacre,  1770.  A  Sermon  to  a  Religious  Society  of  young  men  at  Med- 
ford,  1771.  An  Artillery  Election  Sermon,  1774.  A  Thanksgiving  Ser- 

[85] 


1763. 


mon,  1774.  A  Sermon  on  the  5th  of  March,  1778.  A  Sermon  on  the  death 
of  his  wife,  1778.  A  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  William  Bentley,  1783, 
A  Discourse  occasioned  by  the  return  of  Peace,  1783.  A  Discourse  before 
the  Humane  Society  of  Massachusetts,  1787.  A  Catechism  for  the  use  of 
children  (two  editions),  1791  and  1813.  The  Dudleian  Lecture  at  Harvard 
College,  1793.  A  Discourse  addressed  to  the  Charitable  Fire  Society,  1796. 
A  Sermon  on  Fires  in  Boston,  1797.  A  Fast  Sermon  occasioned  by  the 
yellow-fever,  1798.  A  Sermon  on  the  National  Fast,  1799.  A  Sermon  on 
the  Commencement  of  the  Nineteenth  Century  (in  two  parts),  1801.  A 
Sermon  before  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 
1804.  A  Sermon  before  the  Boston  Female  Asylum,  1804.  A  Sermon  at 
the  dismission  of  the  Rev  Joseph  McKean,  at  Milton,  1804.  A  Sermon  at 
the  interment  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  West,  D.  D.,  1808.  A  Thanksgiving  Ser 
mon,  1808.  A  Sermon  on  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lathrop, 
1809.  A  Sermon  at  the  interment  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eckley,  1811.  A  Thanks 
giving  Sermon,  1811.  A  Discourse  delivered  on  the  Author's  Birthday, 
1812.  Two  Fast  Sermons  occasioned  by  the  war  of  1812-1815;  1812.  A 
Sermon  on  the  death  of  the  Rev.  John  Eliot,  D.  D.,  1813.  Biographical 
Memoir  of  Rev.  John  Lathrop,  1803.  A  Sermon  at  the  Dedication  of  a 
church  at  Dorchester,  1813.  A  Sermon  on  the  Law  of  Retaliation,  1814.  A 
Sermon  preached  at  Weymouth,  at  the  interment  of  Miss  Mary  P.  Bick- 
nell,  1814.  A  Thanksgiving  Sermon  on  the  return  of  Peace,  1815.  A 
Compendious  History  of  the  late  War,  1815.  Besides  the  above,  may  be 
mentioned,  several  Charges,  etc.,  at  Ordinations,  delivered  at  different  pe 
riods  of  his  ministry;  and  some  valuable  Communications  to  the  American 
Academy,  which  are  embodied  in  their  Collections. 

Joseph  Lyoii.  I  can  discover  no  reference  to  Mr. 
Lyon,  except  the  record  upon  his  tombstone  :  that  he 
died  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  in  1821,  in  his  8ist 
year.  He  was  of  the  numerous  race  inhabiting  Newark, 
Elizabeth,  and  Lyons  Farms  lying  between  the  two. 

Obadiah  Noble  entered  the  ministry  and  settled  as 
pastor  of  a  Congregational  Church  at  Orford,  New 
Hamsphire,  November  9,  1771.  He  was  released  from 
this  charge,  February  16,  1829,  and  removed  to  Vermont, 
where  he  died  the  same  year.  He  was  admitted  to  a 
Master's  degree  at  Dartmouth  in  1773. 

William  Paterson  read  law  with  Richard  Stock 
ton,  and  commenced  practice  in  Hunterdon  County, 
New  Jersey.  But  the  troubles  with  Great  Britain  aris- 

[86] 


1763. 

ing,  he  entered  into  public  life,  and  soon  obtained  a  com 
manding  position.  In  1775  he  was  a  member  of  the  Pro 
vincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  same  year  was 
elected  Treasurer  of  the  Province.  On  the  organization 
of  a  State  Government,  under  the  new  State  Constitution, 
Mr.  Paterson  was  appointed  Attorney-General,  which 
position  he  held  till  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  war 
he  devoted  himself  to  his  profession  in  the  county  of 
Somerset.  In  1783  he  removed  to  Trenton.  Mr.  Pater- 
son  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  which  framed  the 
Federal  Constitution  ;  six  of  the  delegates  being  gradu 
ates  of  Princeton.  Mr.  Paterson  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  deliberations  of  that  body,  and  on  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate — three  of  that  body  being  graduates  of 
Princeton  :  Paterson,  of  New  Jersey  ;  Els  worth,  of  Con 
necticut  ;  and  Henry,  of  Maryland.  On  the  death  of 
Governor  Livingston,  Mr.  Paterson  was  chosen  Governor 
of  New  Jersey,  and  continued  in  this  office  until  March 
4>  X793>  when  he  was  elevated  to  the  Bench  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States.  He  held  this  high 
office  until  the  end  of  life.  Judge  Paterson  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Dartmouth, 
in  1805,  and  from  Harvard,  in  1806.  He  was  a  Trustee 
of  the  College  for  fifteen  years.  He  died  at  Albany,  Sep 
tember  9,  1806. 

He  was  a  profound  lawyer,  and  in  every  position  which 
he  held,  stood  conspicuous  for  integrity  and  high  Chris 
tian  character. 

Tapping  Reeve  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Abner 
Reeve,  of  Long  Island,  and  afterwards  of  Vermont.  He 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law  in  1772,  at  Litchfield, 
Connecticut.  Mr.  Reeve  was  a  firm  and  warm  friend  of 
his  country  during  the  Revolution.  In  1792  he  opened 
a  law  school,  and  continued  to  give  lectures  to  students 
at  law  for  nearly  thirty  years.  In  1798  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Connecticut,  and  after- 

[87] 


1763. 

wards  was  Chief  Justice.  His  first  wife  was  the  only 
daughter  of  President  Burr.  Judge  Reeve  was  a  pro 
found  lawyer,  and  Chancellor  Kent  said  of  him :  "  He 
everywhere  displays  the  vigour,  freedom,  and  acuteness 
of  a  sound  and  liberal  mind/'  He  was  also  an  eminent 
Christian,  and  employed  much  of  his  time  in  private  de 
votion.  He  was  accustomed  to  pray  for  the  conversion 
of  individuals  among  his  acquaintances.  He  died  De 
cember  13,  1823. 

The  Publications  of  Mr.  Reeve  are,  The  Law  of  Baron  and  Femme  ;  of 
Parent  and  Child ;  of  Guardian  and  Ward  ;  of  Master  and  Servant.  New 
Haven.  1816.  A  Treatise  on  the  Law  of  Descents  in  the  several  United 
States  of  America.  New  York.  1825. 

John  Simpson,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  in  1770,  and  for 
the  two  following  years  he  preached  at  Easton,  Pennsyl 
vania.  In  1772  he  was  appointed  by  the  Synod  of  New 
York  and  Philadelphia  to  visit  Virginia  and  North  Caro 
lina.  He  spent  seven  months  in  this  missionary  work, 
and  in  1774  was  ordained  and  settled  as  pastor  of  Fishing 
Creek  Church,  South  Carolina.  Until  the  stormy  times 
of  the  Revolution,  his  life  was  peaceful  and  uneventful, 
except  a  little  stir  occasioned  by  his  introducing  Watts's 
Psalms  and  Hymns  into  his  congregation ;  but  these 
troubles  gradually  subsided.  Mr.  Simpson  was  a  bold 
and  ardent  advocate  of  independence,  and  was  in  many 
conflicts  and  skirmishes,  in  some  of  which  he  was  re 
garded  as  the  leader  and  adviser.  He  had  many  narrow 
escapes,  and  in  the  course  of  the  war  his  house,  his  libra 
ry,  his  sermons,  and  indeed  all  that  he  possessed,  were 
destroyed  by  the  enemy.  After  the  war,  he  gathered  his 
scattered  flock,  and  for  ten  years  preached  to  them  the 
Word ;  but  from  the  removal  of  families  to  new  settle 
ments,  he  was  at  last  obliged  to  seek  another  home. 

In  1790  Mr.  Simpson  became  pastor  of  Roberts  and 
Good  Hope  Congregations  in  Pendleton  County,  South 
Carolina.  In  1802  his  churches  were  visited  with  a 

[88] 


1763. 

most  remarkable  revival.  Mr.  Simpson  continued  his  la 
bours  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  February  15, 
1808. 

William   Mackay  Teimeiit    was   a  son   of  Rev. 

Charles  Tennent,  of  Delaware,  and  a  nephew  of  William 
and  Gilbert  Tennent.  He  was  ordained  June  17,  1772, 
as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Greenfield, 
Connecticut.  In  December,  1781,  he  resigned  his  charge 
and  accepted  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Abing- 
ton,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  continued  till  his  death,  De 
cember,  1810.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College  at  Prince 
ton  from  1785  till  1808.  He  received  the  Degree  of  Doc 
tor  of  Divinity  from  Yale  College,  in  1794. 

Dr.  Tennent  married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rod- 
gers,  of  New  York.  In  1797  he  was  Moderator  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  A. 
Alexander,  who  knew  him  personally,  represents  him  as 
a  man  of  great  sweetness  of  temper  and  politeness  of 
manner,  and  as  distinguished  for  his  hospitality.  In  his 
last  hours  he  was  blessed  with  an  uninterrupted  assur 
ance  of  the  favour  of  God. 

James  Watt  studied  theology,  and  in  1770  was  or 
dained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Cape  May,  New  Jersey,  by  the  First  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Watt  died  November  19,  1789.  Upon 
his  tombstone  we  read,  "  If  disinterested  kindness,  integ 
rity,  justice  and  truth  deserve  the  tributary  tear,  here  it 
is  claimed." 

Simon  Williams  came  to  America  from  Ireland. 
Three  years  after  his  graduation,  he  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Windham,  New  Hamp 
shire.  He  died,  September  10,  1793. 


[89] 


1764. 

Thomas  John  Clagget  was  descended  from  an  old 
English  family  who  early  settled  in  Calvert  County, 
Maryland.  He  was  born  in  Prince  George  County, 
Maryland,  October  2,  1743.  After  graduating,  he  enter 
ed  immediately  upon  the  study  of  theology.  Having 
completed  his  preparatory  studies,  he  went  to  England 
for  ordination,  and  in  1767  was  admitted  to  the  Order  of 
Deacons  ;  and  the  Priesthood  by  the  Rev.  Richard  Ter- 
rick,  Bishop  of  London.  On  his  return  to  America,  he 
became  rector  of  All  Saints'  Parish,  in  Calvert  County, 
Maryland.  Here  he  continued  until  the  opening  of  the 
Revolution,  when  he  ceased  to  preach  for  two  years. 

In  1780,  he  was  elected  Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince 
George  County,  Maryland.  On  May  31,  1792,  he  was  unan 
imously  elected  Bishop  of  Maryland,  and  on  September 
13,  was  consecrated  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  by 
Bishop  Prevost ;  Bishops  Seabury,  White  and  Madison 
assisting  in  the  service — being  the  fifth  Bishop  then  in 
the  United  States,  and  the  first  that  was  consecrated  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic. 

In  1 800,  he  acted  as  Chaplain  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  the  first  Session  held  in  Washington. 

After  presiding  over  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Mary 
land  for  twenty -five  years,  he  died  August  2,  1816,  aged 

73- 

Bishop  Clagget's  publications  consist  of  his  Pastoral 
Letters,  Addresses  to  the  Convention,  and  a  few  occa 
sional  Sermons.  He  was  a  well-informed  divine,  and 
continued  to  the  last  devoted  to  the  studies  and  the  du 
ties  of  his  profession. 

Bishop  Clagget  was  a  man  of  commanding  person,  voice 

[90] 


I       1764. 

and  manners,  and  of  great  dignity  of  character,  yet  ex 
ceedingly  mild,  affable,  and  easy  of  access.  He  was  in 
the  habit  of  wearing  the  mitre  on  special  occasions,  and 
Bishop  Meade  relates  an  amusing  incident  connected 
with  the  consecration  of  a  church  in  Alexandria,  at 
which  Bishop  Clagget  officiated.  Putting  on  his  robes 
and  his  mitre  at  some  distance  from  the  church,  he  had 
to  go  along  the  street  to  reach  it.  This  attracted  the  at 
tention  of  a  number  of  boys  and  others,  who  ran  after 
and  along  side  of  him,  admiring  his  peculiar  dress  and 
gigantic  stature.  His  voice  was  as  extraordinary  for 
strength  and  ungovernableness  as  was  his  stature  for 
size,  and  as  he  entered  the  door  of  the  church  where  the 
people  were  in  silence  awaiting,  and  the  first  words  of 
the  service  burst  forth  from  his  lips  in  his  most  peculiar 
manner,  a  young  lady,  turning  around  suddenly  and  see 
ing  his  huge  form  and  uncommon  appearance,  was  so 
convulsed  that  she  was  obliged  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
house. 

William  Foster,  a  native  of  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Castle,  April  23,  1757,  and  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  Upper  Octorora  and  Doe  Run  Presbyterian 
Churches,  Pennsylvania,  October  19,  1768. 

In  the  Revolution,  Mr.  Foster  engaged  heartily  in  the 
cause  of  civil  liberty,  and  encouraged  all  who  heard  him 
to  do  their  utmost  in  defense  of  their  rights,  and  on  this 
account  he  became  very  obnoxious  to  the  enemy,  and 
more  than  once  attempts  were  made  to  seize  him. 

On  one  occasion  Mr.  Foster  was  called  to  Lancas 
ter  to  preach  to  the  troops  collected  there  previous  to 
their  joining  the  main  army.  The  discourse  was  so  ac 
ceptable,  that  it  was  printed  and  circulated,  and  did 
much  to  arouse  the  spirit  of  patriotism  among  the  people. 
Mr.  Foster  was  a  man  of  very  superior  mind,  and  was 
much  esteemed  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him  for 
his  solid  sense  and  unaffected  piety.  He  held  a  high 


1764. 

place  also  among  his  brethren,  as  his  name  constantly 
occurs  in  connection  with  positions  of  trust  and  responsi 
bility.  He  occasionally  received  theological  students 
under  his  care.  He  died  September  30,  1780.  His  death 
bed  was  a  scene  of  triumph. 

Nathaniel  Hazard,  from  the  best  information  I 
can  obtain,  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Hazard  of  New  York, 
and  a  cousin  of  Ebenezer  Hazard  of  the  Class  of  1762. 
He  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Yale  in  1770. 
Mr.  Hazard  died  in  1798. 

Samuel  Leake,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  at  Tinkling  Spring,  Virginia, 
April  18,  1766,  and  was  ordained  May  3,  1770,  and  settled 
as  pastor  of  Rich  Cove  and  North  Garden  Presbyterian 
Churches,  Albemarle  County,  Virginia.  Mr.  Leake's 
pastorate  \vas  short,  being  brought  to  an  end  by  his 
death,  December  2,  1775.  A  large  proportion  of  his  very 
numerous  descendants  have  been  pious.  The  blessing 
of  God  has  rested  upon  his  house. 

John  McCrery  studied  theology  and  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  about  1767.  He  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  White  Clay  Creek 
Church,  Delaware,  in  1769.  Mr.  McCrery  held  this 
charge  for  thirty  years.  He  died  in  1800. 

Alexander  Miller  received  his  license  to  preach 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1767,  and  was  or 
dained  in  1770.  In  1771,  he  took  charge  of  a  Church 
gathered  in  Schenectady,  New  York,  where  he  remained 
for  eleven  years,  but  during  the  distraction  of  the  Revo 
lutionary  war,  his  congregation  dispersed,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  leave' the  field.  Where  Mr.  Miller  resided 
after  leaving  Schenectady,  I  have  no  means  of  determin 
ing.  In  1785  he  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  College; 
and  resigned  the  post  in  1795. 

[92] 


1764. 

Joseph  Smith,  of  Nottingham,  Pennsylvania,  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  August  5, 
1767,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  Lower 
Brandywine  Church,  Delaware,  April  19,  1769.  This 
charge  he  resigned  in  1772,  but  in  1774,  accepted  a  call 
from  the  second  church  in  Wilmington,  that  Church  hav 
ing  united  with  his  old  Brandywine  Church.  He  la 
boured  here  until  April,  1778,  when  he  resigned  on  ac 
count  of  the  distracted  state  of  the  country. 

But  now  he  was  about  to  enter  upon  the  great  work 
of  his  life  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  became 
prominent  for  piety  and  energy,  and  was  one  of  the 
fathers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  region.  The 
Revs.  James  Power  and  John  McMillan,  both  graduates 
of  Princeton,  had  already  preceded  him.  His  first  charge 
was  Buffalo  and  Cross  Creek,  where  he  was  settled  in 
1780.  A  revival  soon  began  in  his  church  which  never 
ceased  till  the  day  of  his  death,  more  than  twelve  years ! 

Mr.  Smith  was  not  a  man  of  robust  health.  In  person 
he  was  tall  and  slender,  of  fair  complexion,  and  was  some 
what  disfigured  by  a  cast  in  one  of  his  eyes.  His  voice 
was  remarkable  alike  for  the  terrific  and  the  pathetic. 
Some  one  said  of  him,  "  I  never  knew  a  man  who  could 
so  completely  unbar  the  gates  of  hell,  and  make  me  look 
so  far  down  into  the  dark,  bottomless  abyss,  or  like  him, 
could  so  throw  open  the  gates  of  heaven,  and  let  me 
glance  at  the  insufferable  brightness  of  the  great  white 
Throne." 

Mr.  Smith  died  April  19,  1792. 

Thomas  Treadwell.  For  seven  years,  from  1776  to 
1783,  Mr.  Treadwell  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
New  York  from  Suffolk  County.  From  1791  to  1795,  he 
represented  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  House  of  Rep 
resentatives  of  the  United  States.  He  died  in  1826. 

James  Tuttle  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York  in  1765.  He  was  the  first  settled  pastor  at 

[93] 


1764. 

Rockaway   and   Parcipany,    New  Jersey.     He   died    in 
April,  1771. 

William  Woodhull,  probably  a  native  of  Long  Is 
land,  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Suffolk  in  1768, 
and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1770. 
In  1783,  on  account  of  continued  bodily  infirmity,  he 
ceased  from  preaching  and  devoted  himself  to  secular 
pursuits.  At  his  request  the  Presbytery  dropped  his 
name  from  their  roll,  but  by  order  of  the  Synod  it  was 
restored. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  commencement  of  this 
year  was  held  in  the  "  New  Church,"  and  Mr.  Whitefield 
preached  in  the  morning. 

[94] 


1765. 

John  Bacon  was  born  in  Canterbury,  Connecticut. 
After  leaving  College,  he  studied  theology,  and  was  or 
dained  a  Congregational  Minister,  and  preached  for  a 
time  in  Somerset  County,  Maryland.  In  1771,  he  was 
settled  with  the  Rev.  John  Hunt  as  a  colleague  pastor  of 
the  old  South  Church  in  Boston,  as  successor  to  the  Rev. 
John  Blair.  His  style  of  preaching  was  argumentative, 
and  his  manner  approaching  the  severe.  He  left  his 
church  in  1775  on  account  of  doctrinal  difficulties  which 
arose.  He  then  removed  to  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts, 
and  became  in  turn,  a  magistrate,  a  representative  in  the 
Legislature,  Associate  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  a  member  and  President  of  the  State  Senate,  and 
a  Member  of  Congress.  In  his  political  views  he  ac 
corded  with  the  party  of  Mr.  Jefferson. 

Mr.  Bacon  was  one  of  the  original  Trustees  of  Wil 
liams  College.  He  died  October  25,  1820. 

He  published,  A  Sermon,  1772 ;  An  Answer  to  Huntington  on  a  Case  of 
Discipline,  1781  ;  A  Speech  on  the  Courts  of  the  United  States,  1802 ;  Con 
jectures  on  the  Prophecies,  1805. 

Joel  Benedict.  The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Benedict 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  New  England.  He 
was  born  in  Salem,  New  York,  January  8,  1745.  After 
leaving  Princeton,  he  taught  school  in  the  South,  but  the 
climate  affecting  his  health,  he  returned  to  his  father's 
house  in  Salem.  He  now  determined  to  devote  himself 
to  the  ministry,  and  pursued  his  studies  under  Dr.  Bell 
amy.  After  his  licensure  he  supplied  destitute  churches 
in  Maine  and  Massachusetts  until  1771,  when  he  became 
pastor  of  a  Congregational  Church  at  Newent  (now 

[95] 


1765. 

Lisbon),  Connecticut,  where  he  laboured  until  1781,  when 
he  resigned  on  account  of  his  health,  which  had  long 
been  feeble.  Recovering  his  health  in  1784,  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Church  at  Plainfield,  Connecticut,  where 
he  preached  with  great  acceptance  until  his  death,  Feb 
ruary  13,  1816. 

In  1808  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  Union  College,  and  in  1814 
by  Dartmouth. 

Dr.  Benedict  was  a  distinguished  classical  scholar,  and 
Virgil  was  his  favourite  author  through  life.  It  is  said 
that  his  reading  of  Latin  poetry,  even  when  he  was  in 
college,  was  so  remarkable  that  the  professors  sometimes 
set  him  to  reading  Virgil  merely  for  their  own  gratifica 
tion.  He  was  also  profoundly  versed  in  mathematics ; 
and  as  a  biblical  scholar  he  had  few  superiors.  The 
Hebrew  language,  which  he  was  accustomed  to  call  "  the 
language  of  the  angete,"  was  his  delight. 

Dr.  Benedict  lived  through  the  stirring  scenes  of  the 
Revolution,  and  mingled  in  them  with  the  spirit  of  a  true 
patriot. 

The  only  acknowledged  publication  of  Dr.  Benedict  is  a  sermon  preached 
at  the  funeral  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hart  in  1811. 

William  Davies,  the  eldest  son  of  President  Davies, 
studied  law,  and  settled  at  Norfolk,  Virginia.  In  the 
Revolutionary  War  he  attained  the  rank  of  Colonel  in 
the  American  Army ;  was  an  officer  of  distinguished 
merit,  and  possessed,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  Commander-in-Chief.  He  was  a 
man  of  powerful  mind,  highly  cultivated  and  enriched 
by  various  knowledge.  He  died  in  Virginia  before  1820. 

Jonathan  Edwards,  a  son  of  President  Edwards, 
after  leaving  college,  studied  divinity  with  Dr.  Bellamy, 
and  was  licensed  by  a  Congregational  Association  at 
Litchfield,  Connecticut,  in  1766.  In  1767  he  was  ap 
pointed  tutor  at  Princeton,  where  he  remained  two  years. 

[96] 


On  the  5th  of  January,  1769,  he  was  ordained  and  became 
pastor  of  a  church  at  Colebrook,  Connecticut,  where  he 
hoped  to  spend  his  life  in  retirement;  but  in  June  1799, 
he  was  elected  and  inaugurated  the  President  of  Union 
College. 

Dr.  Edwards  was  a  man  of  uncommon  powers  of 
mind.  He  has  seldom  been  surpassed  in  acuteness  and 
penetration.  His  manner  in  preaching  was  bold  and 
animated,  but  he  addressed  the  understanding  and  con 
science  rather  than  the  passions  of  his  audience.  He 
died  August  i,  1801. 

The  writings  of  Dr.  Edwards  are  a  book  entitled,  "The  Salvation  of  all 
Men  Strictly  Examined,"  etc.,  in  answer  to  Dr.  Chauncy.  A  Dissertation 
on  Liberty  and  Necessity.  Observations  on  the  Language  of  the  Muhhe- 
kaneew  or  Stockbridge  Indians,  communicated  to  the  Connecticut  Society 
of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  republished  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Collections,  with  Notes  by  J.  Pickering.  Brief  Observations  on  the  Doc 
trine  of  Universal  Salvation.  Three  Sermons  on  the  Atonement.  Sermon 
at  the  Ordination  of  Timothy  Dwight,  Greenfield,  1785.  Sermon  at  the 
Ordination  of  Daniel  Bradley,  Hamden,  1792.  Sermon  at  the  Ordination 
of  William  Brown,  Glastenburg,  1792.  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Edward 
Dorr  Griffin,  New  Hartford,  1795.  A  Sermon  on  the  Injustice  and  Impolicy 
of  the  Slave  Trade,  1791.  Human  Depravity  the  Source  of  Infidelity:  a 
Sermon  published  in  the  "American  Preacher,"  vol.  ii.,  Marriage  of  a  Wife's 
Sister  Considered,  in  the  Anniversary  Concio  ad  Clerum,  in  the  Chapel  of 
Yale  College,  1792.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Roger  Sherman,  1793.  An 
Election  Sermon,  1794.  A  Sermon  on  a  Future  State  of  Existence  and  the 
Immortality  of  the  Soul,  printed  in  a  volume  entitled,  "  Sermons  Collected, 
etc."  A  Farewell  Sermon  to  the  People  of  Colebrook.  A  number  of 
pieces  in  the  New  York  "  Theological  Magazine"  under  the  signature  of 
I.  and  O. 

He  also  edited  from  the  manuscripts  of  his  father,  The  History  of  the 
Work  of  Redemption,  two  volumes  of  Sermons,  and  two  volumes  of  Obser 
vations  on  Important  Theological  Subjects. 

His  whole  works  were  edited  and  published  by  his  grandson,  Rev.  Tryon 
Edwards,  D.  D. 

Robert  Halstetl  belonged  to  'the  Elizabethtown 
family  of  Halsteds.  After  graduating  he  studied  med 
icine,  and  became  quite  eminent  in  his  profession. 

Richard  Hvitson  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  William 
7  [97] 


1765. 

Hutson,  one  of  the  early  Presbyterian  ministers  in  South 
Carolina.  He  entered  the  profession  of  the  law  after 
leaving  Princeton,  and  became  one  of  the  first  Chancel 
lors  of  South  Carolina.  He  was  an  earnest  patriot,  and 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress  from  1777  to 
1779.  In  1780  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British,  and 
confined  for  some  time  in  St.  Augustine,  Florida. 

Samuel  Kirklaiid  held  a  high  rank  as  a  scholar 
during  his  college  course,  and  was  esteemed  a  young 
man  of  marked  ability.  He  left  college  eight  months 
before  his  class  graduated,  but  nevertheless  received  his 
degree.  He  immediately  went  on  a  missionary  expedi 
tion  to  the  Seneca  tribe  of  Indians,  the  most  warlike  and 
distant  tribe  of  the  Six  Nations.  Sir  William  Johnson 
gave  him  every  assistance  in  his  mission.  His  adventures 
it  is  impossible  here  to  relate.  It  was  a  scene  of  constant 
hardship,  of  unremitting  labour,  and  often  of  imminent 
danger.  After  being  a  year  absent,  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  Norwich,  Connecticut,  bringing  one  of  the 
Seneca  chiefs  with  him.  He  was  now  ordained,  and 
returned  to  his  mission,  where  he  spent  more  than  forty 
years.  The  influence  which  this  mission  had  upon  the 
interest  of  the  country  during  the  Revolution  may  be 
learned  from  an  extract  of  a  letter  of  Washington  to 
Congress  in  1775  :  "  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  the  bearer 
of  this,  having  been  introduced  to  the  Honourable  Con 
gress,  can  need  no  particular  recommendation  from  me. 
But  as  he  now  wishes  to  have  the  affairs  of  his  mission 
and  public  employ  put  upon  some  suitable  footing,  I 
cannot  but  intimate  my  sense  of  the  importance  of  his 
station,  and  the  great  advantages  which  have  and  may 
result  to  the  United  Colonies  from  his  situation  being 
made  respectable.  All  accounts  agree  that  much  of  the 
favourable  disposition  shown  by  the  Indians  may  be 
ascribed  to  his  labour  and  influence." 

The  founding  of  Hamilton  College  is  due  to  the  far- 
seeing  generosity  of  Mr.  Kirkland.  It  was  through  his 

[98] 


1765. 

influence  that  Hamilton  Oneida  Academy  was  founded 
and  incorporated  in  1793.  In  the  same  year  he  conveyed 
to  its  Trustees  several  hundred  acres  of  land.  In  1812 
this  academy  became  Hamilton  College  under  a  new 
charter. 

Mr.  Kirkland  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at 
Yale  in  1768,  and  at  Dartmouth  in  1773.  He  died  Feb 
ruary  28,  1808. 

Alexander  Mitchel  received  his  license  from  the 
First  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  April,  1767,  and  was 
ordained  and  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Deep  Run  Presby 
terian  Church,  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  Novem 
ber,  1768.  .In  1785,  he  received  a  call  from  the  Upper 
Octorara  ancj  Doe  Run  Congregations,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  installed  December  14,  1785.  In  1795,  a  diffi 
culty  arose  in  the  congregation  of  Octorara,  on  account 
of  Mr.  Mitchel's  preaching  against  church  members  en 
gaging  in  worldly  amusements,  and  on  this  account,  he 
resigned  the  charge  in  1796.  He  still  continued  the  pas 
tor  of  Doe  Run,  where  he  remained  until  1809,  when,  by 
reason  of  advancing  years,  he  was  unable  to  minister  to 
them.  He  died  December  6,  1812. 

Robert  Ogclen,  a  son  of  Robert  Ogden,  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  New  Jersey,  became  a  distinguished  patriot  and 
Christian.  He,  in  connection  with  William  Paterson, 
Luther  Martin,  Oliver  Ellsworth  and  Tapping  Reeve, 
were  the  founders  of  the  Cliosophic  Society.  After  grad 
uating,  he  studied  law  with  Richard  Stockton,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  June  21,  1770.  He  opened  his  office 
in  Elizabethtown,  and  soon  acquired  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice. 

Mr.  Ogden  was  a  warm  and  earnest  patriot.  He  was 
also  a  fine  scholar,  and  kept  up  his  classical  reading  after 
entering  upon  his  profession. 

Jonathan  Ogcleii  also  came  from  Elizabethtown,  to 

[99] 


1765. 

which  place  he  returned  after  graduation.     He  never  en 
tered  a  profession. 

Ebenezer  Pemberton  was  probably  born  in  Bos 
ton.  He  pronounced  the  Valedictory  on  Commencement 
day,  on  "  Patriotism."  He  was  appointed  a  tutor  in  the 
college  in  1769.  On  one  of  the  public  occasions,  while 
he  was  a  tutor,  he  was  addressed  by  Madison,  then  a 
student,  in  a  Latin  address,  valedictory  and  complimen 
tary,  on  the  part  of  the  class,  to  the  teacher.  His  life 
was  devoted  to  teaching,  at  one  time  in  Phillips'  Aca 
demy,  and  no  teacher  had  a  higher  character  for  scholar 
ship,  manners,  eloquence  and  piety.  His  last  twenty 
years  were  years  of  infirmity.  He  was  elegant  and  dig 
nified  in  his  appearance,  and  refined  in  his  manners  and 
utterance. 

Mr.  Pemberton  was  admitted  to  an  ad  cundem  Master's 
degree  at  Harvard  in  1787,  at  Yale  in  1781,  and  at  Dart 
mouth  in  1782.  In  1817,  he  received  the  honorary  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Allegheny  College.  He  died 
June  25,  1835. 

David  Ramsay  was  a  Pennsylvania!!  by  birth.  After 
leaving  Princeton,  he  studied  medicine,  and  settled  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  where  he  rose  to  eminence. 
During  the  Revolution  he  was  a  determined  Whig,  and 
a  leading  member  of  the  Legislature.  He  also  acted  as 
a  Surgeon  in  the  army.  From  1782  to  1786,  he  was  a 
Delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  was  for  a  time 
President  pro  tern.  His  first  wife  was  the  daughter  of 
President  Witherspoon.  He  met  his  death  by  a  pistol- 
shot,  at  the  hands  of  an  insane  man,  in  1815.  Dr.  Ram 
say  is  chiefly  celebrated  for  his  historical  works. 

He  published  :  A  History  of  the  Revolution  in  South  Carolina,  2  vols., 
8vo,  1785.  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  2  vols.,  8vo,  1789.  Re 
view  of  the  Improvement,  etc.,  of  Medicine,  1800.  The  Life  of  Washington, 
1807.  Medical  Register,  1802.  Oration  on  the  Acquisition  of  Louisiana, 
1804.  History  of  South  Carolin  2  Is.,  8vo,  1809.  A  Biographical  Chart. 
Memoirs  of  Martha  L.  Ramsay,  1811.  Eulogium  on  Dr.  Rush,  1813.  His- 

[  100  ] 


tory  of  the  United  States,  3  vols.,   1816-1817.     Universal  History  Ameri 
canized,  8  vols.    1819. 

Theodore  Dirck  Homey n  studied  theology,  and 
became  a  minister  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  He 
was  first  settled  in  Ulster  County,  New  York,  and  after 
wards  at  Hackensack,  New  Jersey.  In  November,  1784, 
he  removed  to  Schenectady,  New  York,  and  in  1797  was 
appointed  Professor  of  Theology  of  the  Dutch  Church. 
The  establishment  of  Union  College  is  principally  as 
cribed  to  his  efforts.  He  is  represented  to  have  been  a 
"  son  of  thunder"  in  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Romeyn  was  born 
in  New  Barbadoes,  New  Jersey.  He  died  April  16,  1804. 

Jacob  Rush  was  a  brother  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush. 
On  Commencement  day  he  pronounced  an  oration  on 
Liberty,  and  his  class-mate,  Pemberton,  one  on  Patriot 
ism,  showing  the  tendency  of  the  young  American  mind 
even  at  that  early  day.  Mr.  Rush  entered  the  profession 
of  the  law,  and  rose  to  a  distinguished  position.  He 
was  for  many  years  presiding  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  for  Philadelphia.  He  was  afterwards 
Chief  Justice  of  th^  State.  He  died  in  1820. 

Judge  Rush  published  :  Resolve  in  Committee  Chamber,  Philadelphia, 
1774.  Charges  on  Moral  and  Religious  Subjects,  1803.  Character  of 
Christ,  1806.  Christian  Baptism,  1819. 

John  Staples  was  a  native  of  Taunton,  Massachu 
setts,  and  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Miles  Standish.  He 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
was  ordained  April  17,  1772,  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  Church  at  Westminster,  Connecticut.  He  remained 
in  this  charge  until  his  death,  which  took  place  February 
15,  1804.  He  was  much  beloved  by  his  people,  and  was 
a  faithful  and  successful  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  A  son 
of  Mr.  Staples  was  a  lawyer  of  some  note  in  New  York 
City,  and  for  many  years  an  Elder  in  the  University 
Place  Presbyterian  Church. 

[101] 


I765- 

Alexander  Thayer  became  pastor  of  the  Congrega 
tional  Church  at  Paxton,  Massachusetts,  November  28, 
1770.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  suspected  of  fa 
vouring  the  British  cause,  and  although  these  suspicions 
were  groundless,  yet  for  the  sake  of  peace  in  his  congre 
gation,  he  resigned  his  charge  August  14,  1782,  and  re 
moved  to  Holliston,  Massachusetts,  where  he  ended  his 
days. 

Jacob  Vanartsdalen,  a  native  of  Somerset  County, 
New  Jersey,  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  June  19,  1771  ;  in  which  connection  he  re 
mained  until  the  latter  part  of  1774,  when  he  was  received 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  and  put  in  charge  of  the 
Church  of  Springfield,  New  Jersey.  He  continued  in 
the  orderly  and  faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  the 
office,  as  far  as  his  health  permitted,  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  In  the  spring  of  1797,  and  again 
three  years  later,  he  was  by  reason  of  long  continued 
illness,  disqualified  for  preaching.  He  was  at  length 
compelled  to  relinquish  the  pastoral  office,  and  was  dis 
missed  from  his  charge,  May  6,  1801.  From  1793  to 
1802  Mr.  Vanarstdalen  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College.  He 
died  at  Springfield,  October  24,  1803. 

Stephen  Voorhees  (or  Van  Voorhis)  was  licensed 
by  the  General  Meeting  and  Elders  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  in  1772,  and  was  ordained  and  settled  at 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York  in  1773,  where  he  remained 
until  1776.  From  1776  to  1784  he  was  pastor  of  the  Re 
formed  Dutch  Church  at  Rhinebeck  Flats;  and  from  1785 
to  1788  at  Philipsburg  (Tarrytown)  and  Cortlandtown, 
New  York.  In  1792  he  joined  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  and  preached  as  a  supply  at  Kingston  and 
Assunpink,  New  Jersey.  He  died  November  23,  1796. 

Simeon  Williams  was  a  native  of  Easton,  Massa 
chusetts.  After  graduating,  he  studied  theology,  and 

[102] 


1765. 

was  installed  pastor  of  the  Second  Congregational  Church 
at  Wey mouth,  Massachusetts,  October  27,  1768,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  22, 
1819.  Mr.  Williams  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree 
at  Harvard  in  1769. 


i;66. 

Waiglitstill  Avery  was  a  native  of  Norwich,  Con 
necticut.  After  graduating,  he  removed  to  Maryland, 
and  studied  law  with  Littleton  Dennis,  Esq.  Removing 
to  North  Carolina,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  that 
State  in  1769.  Taking  up  his  residence  in  Charlotte,  he 
soon  acquired  friends  and  rapid  promotion,  and  was  from 
the  beginning  active  in  encouraging  education  and  liter 
ature.  The  Minutes  of  the  Council  of  Safety  show  his 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  liberty  ;  and  the  confidence  of  his 
countrymen  in  his  talents  is  proved  by  the  important 
duties  he  was  engaged  to  perform.  With  Ephraim  Bre- 
vard  and  Hezekiah  James  Balch,  he  was  one  of  the  lead 
ing  spirits  that  sent  forth  the  Mecklenberg  Resolutions. 
He  served  many  times  in  the  Legislature  of  his  State, 
and  from  1775  to  1777  he  was  in  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  North  Carolina.  In  1777  he  was  appointed  the  first 
Attorney-General  of  the  State.  In  1781,  by  order  of 
Cornwallis,  his  office,  with  all  his  books  and  papers,  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  He  was  an  exemplary  Christian,  a 
pure  patriot  and  an  honest  man,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  the  oldest  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Bar.  He 
died  in  1821. 

Hezekiah  Balch  was  born  in  Maryland,  but  re 
moved,  while  a  child,  with  his  father's  family  to  North 
Carolina.  For  some  time  after  his  graduation,  he  taught 
a  school  in  Fauquier  County,  Virginia.  Mr.  Balch  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  in 
1768,  and  ordained  in  1770.  At  first  he  performed  mis 
sionary  work  in  Virginia,  and  for  one  year,  he  preached 
in  York,  Pennsylvania.  In  1784  he  removed  to  Tennes- 

[104] 


1766. 

see,  then  a  vast  wilderness,  and,  by  reason  of  age  and  ex 
perience,  took  the  lead  in  organizing  churches.  In  his 
work  in  Tennessee  he  was  closely  associated  with  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Doak,  another  graduate  of  Princeton.  About 
the  year  1793  Mr.  Balch  conceived,  matured,  and  com 
municated  to  some  of  his  friends  the  plan  of  Greenville 
College,  and  obtained  a  charter  for  the  same  in  1794. 
The  next  year  he  visited  New  England  to  collect  funds 
for  the  institution,  which  visit  occasioned  a  theological 
controversy  which  gave  a  somewhat  polemical  character 
to  his  whole  life.  Mr.  Balch's  exertions  in  behalf  of  edu 
cation  gave  an  impulse  to  the  cause  through  the  whole 
south-western  region.  However  imprudent  he  may  have 
been  in  many  things,  he  deserves  the  gratitude  of  the 
county  for  his  labour  in  behalf  of  a  higher  education.  The 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  on  him  by 
Williams  College  in  1806. 

Dr.  Balch  died  full  of  labour,  in  April,  1810. 

Hezekiah  James  Balch,  a  native  of  Deer  Creek, 
Hartford  County,  Maryland,  was  licensed  by  the  Presby 
tery  of  Donegal  in  1768,  soon  after  which  he  removed  to 
North  Carolina.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  Meck 
lenburg  Convention,  and  one  of  the  committee  that  pre 
pared  the  Resolutions  adopted  by  that  Convention.  Mr. 
Balch  was  the  pastor  of  two  churches,  Rocky  River  and 
Poplar  Tent.  He  saw  the  commencement  of  that  war 
which  ended  with  all  the  honour  and  independence  to  his 
country  he  ever  desired  ;  but  before  the  strife  of  blood  and 
plunder  that  followed  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
reached  Carolina,  he  slept  with  those  whose  sleep  shall 
not  be  awakened  till  the  resurrection.  He  died  in  1776. 

Ebenezer  Cowell  was  probably  a  brother  of  David 
Cowell,  M.D.,  of  the  class  of  1763.  He  was  a  lawyer  in 
Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

Samuel  Edmiston,  after  leaving  College,  studied 

[105] 


1766. 

Medicine  and  practiced  at  Fagg's  Manor,  Pennsylvania. 
Dr.  Edmiston  married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Blair, 
of  Fagg's  Manor.  Four  other  graduates  of  Princeton 
married  daughters  of  Dr.  Blair:  George  Duffield,  of  the 
class  of  1752;  David  Rice,  of  the  class  of  1761;  John 
Carmichael,  of  the  class  of  1759,  and  William  Foster,  of 
the  class  of  1764 ;  all  of  them  distinguished  clergymen. 

Oliver  Ellsworth  was  born  in  Windsor,  Connecticut, 
April  29,  1745.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  began  teach 
ing  and  the  study  of  theology,  but  soon  relinquished  both 
for  the  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1771.  About 
1775,  he  removed  to  Hartford,  and  soon  after  was  ap 
pointed  Attorney-General  of  the  State.  He  was  in  the 
Legislature  which  assembled  a  few  days  after  the  battle 
of  Lexington.  In  1777  he  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  but  did  not  take  his  seat  until 
October,  1778.  In  1780,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Coun 
cil  of  Connecticut,  and  continued  a  member  of  that  body 
till  1784,  when  he  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Superior 
Court.  In  1787  he  was  a  member  of  the  Convention 
which  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  In 
an  Assembly,  illustrious  for  talent,  erudition  and  patriot 
ism,  he  held  a  distinguished  place.  In  1789  he  was 
chosen  a  United  States  Senator,  which  place  he  filled  till 
1796,  when  he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  United 
States.  Here  he  .presided  with  great  dignity  and  wis 
dom.  In  1799,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Adams 
Envoy  Extraordinary  to  France,  one  of  his  two  col 
leagues,  General  Davie,  being  also  a  graduate  of  Prince 
ton.  With  much  reluctance  he  accepted  this  appoint 
ment.  While  abroad,  his  failing  health  induced  him  to 
resign  his  high  office  of  Chief  Justice. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  was  a  model  of  a  legislator  and  judge. 
His  perceptions  were  unusually  rapid,  his  reasoning 
clear  and  conclusive,  and  his  eloquence  powerful.  He 
moved  for  more  than  thirty  years  in  a  most  conspicuous 
sphere  unassailed  by  the  shafts  of  slander. 


i766. 

In  private  life  he  was  the  personification  of  social  and 
personal  virtue.  He  was  always  unassuming-  and  hum 
ble.  His  dress,  his  equipage  and  mode  of  living  were 
regulated  by  a  principle  of  republican  economy. 

He  was,  above  all,  an  exemplary  Christian,  having  con 
fessed  Christ  in  his  youth  ;  and  in  every  station  he  was 
not  ashamed  of  his  Gospel.  His  religion  was  practical 
and  vital — always  at  the  prayer  meetings,  and  a  life-long 
friend  of  Missions. 

His  speech  in  the  Convention  of  Connecticut  in  favour 
of  the  Constitution,  is  preserved  in  the  American  Mu 
seum. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  died  November  26,  1807. 

Joseph  Hasbrouck,  of  Huguenot  descent,  was  born 
in  the  village  of  Kingston,  New  York.  He  never  studied 
a  profession,  but  settled  on  the  old  homestead  as  a  farm 
er.  He  was  an  ardent  patriot  and  entered  the  Revolu 
tionary  army,  in  which  he  became  a  Colonel  of  Militia, 
and  saw  some  service.  He  afterwards  became  a  General 
in  the  State  service. 

He  was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance,  dignified 
and  courteous  in  his  manners,  of  acknowledged  ability 
and  great  influence  in  the  community  in  which  he  re 
sided.  He  accumulated  and  left  a  large  inheritance  to 
his  family,  who  enjoy  a  high  social  position.  One  of  his 
nephews,  the  Hon.  A.  Bruyn  Hasbrouck,  LL.  D.,  was  for 
some  time  President  of  Rutgers  College. 

General  Hasbrouck  died  February  26,  1808. 

David  Howell,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  removed  to 
Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  was  for  three  years  a  tu 
tor  in  the  College  of  Rhode  Island,  (Brown  University,) 
being  the  first  ever  appointed  in  that  institution  ;  for  nine 
years  he  was  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  ;  for  thirty- 
four  years  Professor  of  Law  ;  for  fifty-two  years  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Board  of  Fellows  ;  and  for  many  years  Secre 
tary  of  the  Corporation.  Though  abundantly  compe- 

[107] 


1766. 

tent  to  the  task,  he  never  delivered  any  lectures  while 
he  filled  the  chair  of  Professor  of  Law.  Judge  Howell 
practiced  law  in  Providence  for  many  years,  and  was 
among  the  most  eminent  members  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Bar.  He  represented  Rhode  Island  in  the  Continental 
Congress  from  1782  to  1785.  In  1812,  he  was  appointed 
United  States  Judge  for  the  District  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  this  office  he  sustained  till  his  death.  Judge  Howell 
was  endowed  with  extraordinary  talents,  and  superadded 
•to  his  endowments,  extensive  and  accurate  learning.  As 
an  able  jurist  he  established  for  himself  a  solid  reputa 
tion.  He  was,  however,  yet  more  distinguished  as  a 
keen  and  brilliant  wit,  and  as  a  scholar,  extensively  ac 
quainted  not  only  with  the  ancient,  but  with  several  of  the 
modern  languages.  As  an  effective  and  pungent  politi 
cal  writer,  he  was  almost  unrivalled ;  and  in  conversa 
tion,  whatever  chanced  to  be  the  theme,  whether  politics 
or  law — literature  or  theology — grammar  or  criticism 
—a  Greek  tragedy,  or  a  difficult  problem  in  mathe 
matics,  he  was  never  found  wanting.  He  died  July  9, 
1824. 

Daniel  Jones.  All  that  I  can  learn  of  Mr.  Jones  is 
that  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle  in  1769,  and  ordained  in  1781.  His  name  soon 
disappears  from  the  Records  of  the  Synod. 

Josiah  Lewis  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle  in  1769,  and  ordained  in  1771.  In  the  au 
tumn  of  1771,  he  was  preaching  as  a  missionary  in  North 
and  South  Carolina,  after  which  I  can  find  no  trace  of 
him. 

Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston  was  probably  the 
fifth  child  of  Philip  Livingston,  the  signer  of  the  Declara 
tion  of  Independence.  After  graduating,  he  removed  to 
Jamaica  in  the  West  Indies,  and  the  family  have  no  re 
cord  of  his  death. 


1766. 

Daniel  McCalla  was  born  in  Neshaminy,  Pennsyl 
vania.  On  leaving  college  he  took  charge  of  an  academy 
in  Philadelphia,  and  during  his  labours  there,  made  him 
self  familiar  with  the  science  of  medicine,  mastered  seve 
ral  of  the  modern  languages,  and  pursued  a  course  of 
theological  study.  In  1774,  he  was  ordained  by  the  First 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
churches  at  New  Providence  and  Charleston,  Pennsyl 
vania.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  Congress  a  Chaplain  (the  only  one  they  ever 
appointed)  of  General  Thompson's  Corps,  under  orders 
for  Canada.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  was  taken  prison 
er,  and  confined  for  some  months  in  a  loathsome  prison- 
ship,  and  subjected  to  brutal  treatment.  At  length  he  was 
released  on  parole,  and  returned  to  his  congregation  in 
1776.  Soon  after,  he  was  charged  with  breaking  his  pa 
role  in  praying  for  his  country,  and  the  danger  becoming 
imminent,  he  escaped  to  Virginia,  where  he  established 
an  academy  in  Hanover  County,  and  became  pastor  of 
the  congregation  made  vacant  by  the  removal  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Davies  to  Princeton.  Mr.  McCalla  was 
eminently  a  social  man,  and  perhaps  not  always  discreet. 
Finding  himself  subject  to  censure,  he  left  his  position  in 
Virginia  in  1788,  and  removed  to  South  Carolina,  where 
he  became  pastor  of  an  Independent  Church  at  Wappe- 
taw.  He  remained  pastor  of  this  church  until  the  close 
of  his  life,  a  diligent  student,  and  faithful  pastor,  a  period 
of  twenty-one  years.  The  College  of  South  Carolina 
conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity.  He  died  in  May,  1809. 

Dr.  McCalla  published,  A  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  James  Adams, 
1799.  In  1810  two  volumes  of  his  works  were  published,  with  notices  of 
his  life  by  Dr.  Hollingshed  ;  these  volumes  contain  nine  sermons  on  differ 
ent  subjects.  He  published  also  Twenty  Numbers  of  Remarks  on  the 
"  Age  of  Reason  "  over  the  signature  of  "  Artemas."  Remarks  on  Gries- 
bach's  Greek  Testament.  An  Essay  on  the  Excellency  and  Advantages  of 
the  Gospel.  Remarks  on  the  Theatre  and  Public  Amusements,  in  thirteen 
numbers.  Hints  on  Education,  in  fourteen  numbers.  The  Sovereignty  of 
the  People,  in  twelve  numbers.  A  Fair  Statement  and  Appendix  to  the 

[  109  1 


1766. 

same,  in  eighteen  numbers,  containing  an  address  to  President  Adams. 
Servility  of  Prejudice  Displayed,  in  nine  numbers.  Federal  Sedition  and 
Anti-Democracy,  in  six  numbers.  A  Vindication  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  two 
numbers.  The  Retreat,  a  Poem. 

John  MacPherson  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  his 
father,  John  MacPherson,  being  a  resident  of  that  city, 
and  greatly  distinguished  in  privateering  in  the  war  of 
17$6.  John  MacPherson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
an  uncle  of  John  MacPherson  Berrien,  of  the  class  of 
1796.  After  leaving  Princeton  he  read  law  in  Philadel 
phia  with  John  Dickinson,  author  of  the  celebrated 
farmer's  letter.  When  the  war  for  independence  began, 
he  joined  the  army,  and  was  an  aid-de-camp  of  General 
Montgomery  at  the  siege  of  Quebec,  and  fell  at  the  same 
discharge  of  grape-shot  by  which  his  commander  was 
killed,  December  31,  1775.  There  is  an  interesting  incident 
connected  with  his  fall  which  deserves  to  be  recorded. 
Major  MacPherson  had  a  brother  William,  who  was  an 
officer  in  the  British  service  at  this  time,  and  who  was  as 
violent  in  favor  of  the  English  government,  as  his  brother 
was  enthusiastic  in  the  cause  of  America.  A  few  days 
before  the  attack,  Major  MacPherson  accompanied  Gen 
eral  Montgomery  to  view  the  spot  where  Wolfe  had 
fallen  ;  on  his  return  he  found  a  letter  from  his  brother, 
the  English  officer,  full  of  the  bitterest  reproaches  against 
him  for  having  entered  into  the  American  service,  and 
containing  a  pretty  direct  wish,  if  he  would  not  abandon 
it,  he  might  meet  with  the  deserved  fate  of  a  rebel. 
Major  MacPherson  immediately  returned  him  an  answer, 
full  of  strong  reasoning,  in  defence  of  his  conduct,  but 
by  no  means  attempting  to  shake  the  opposite  principles 
of  his  brother,  and  not  only  free  from  acrimony,  but  full 
of  expressions  of  tenderness  and  affection  ;  this  letter  he 
dated,  "  from  the  spot  where  Wolfe  lost  his  life  in  fighting 
the  cause  of  England,  in  friendship  with  America" 

The  letter  had  scarcely  reached  the  officer  at  New 
York,  before  it  was  followed  by  the  news  of  his  brother's 
death.  The  effect  was  instantaneous  ;  nature  and  per- 

[i-iol 


1766. 

haps  reason  prevailed.  He  instantly  applied  for  permission 
to  resign,  unwilling1  to  bear  arms  longer  against  his 
countrymen.  This  permission  was  granted  on  condition 
that  he  should  not  leave  the  British  lines,  within  which 
he  remained  under  the  surveillance  of  a  soldier  ;  being 
indulged,  however,  with  the  liberty  of  going  in  pursuit 
of  ducks  on  the  East  river,  attended  by  his  guard.  Hav 
ing  one  day  advanced  some  distance  from  the  city,  he 
put  his  gun  to  the  head  of  the  attendant,  and  ordered 
him  to  pull  over  to  the  Long  Island  shore,  where  he  was 
received  by  a  party  of  Americans.  The  fact  becoming 
known  to  Congress,  he  received  from  that  body  a  Major's 
commission,  and  sought  every  occasion  of  distinguishing 
himself  in  the  service  of  his  country  until  the  close  of 
the  war. 

Luther  Martin  joined  college  from  New  Jersey. 
After  his  graduation  he  removed  to  Maryland,  where  he 
taught  school  until  1771,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar.  Removing  to  Virginia  he  practiced  his  profession 
in  Accomac  and  Northampton  Counties.  He  was  soon 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  at  the  Bar.  He 
threw  his  whole  strength  on  the  side  of  American  Inde 
pendence,  and  by  his  bold  speech  and  writings,  animated 
the  friends  of  the  country.  On  the  nth  of  April,  1778, 
he  was  appointed  Attorney  -  General  of  the  State  of 
Maryland.  In  this  office  he  displayed  remarkable  firmness, 
professional  knowledge,  and  uncompromising  energy,  and 
increased  his  reputation  as  an  advocate  and  jurist.  In 
1804,  he  was  employed  in  the  defence  of  Judge  Chase  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  In  1807  he 
was  one  of  the  counsel  to  defend  Aaron  Burr,  who  was 
his  personal  friend.  In  1814  he  was  appointed  Chief 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  for  the  City 
and  County  of  Baltimore.  In  1818  he  was  again  ap 
pointed  Attorney  -  General  of  Maryland.  He  died  in 
New  York,  July  10,  1826. 

As  a  lawyer,  Judge  Martin  was  learned,  solid,  and 

[in] 


1766. 

second  to  no  man  among  his  contemporaries.  He  was 
not  brilliant  but  solid.  He  was  a  man  of  warm  heart 
and  generous  feelings,  but  in  the  discharge  of  his  official 
duties  he  was  vigorous  and  unyielding.  In  personal  ap 
pearance  he  was  about  the  medium  size,  but  stout  and 
muscular.  He  usually  wore  a  brown  or  blue  dress-coat, 
with  ruffles  around  the  wrists  after  the  ancient  fashion, 
and  his  hair  tied  behind,  hanging  below  the  collar  of  his 
coat.  He  often  appeared  walking  in  the  street  with  his 
legal  documents  close  to  his  eyes  for  perusal,  wholly  ab 
stracted  from  the  world,  and  absorbed  in  his  profession. 

Luther  Martin  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  ablest  law 
yers  which  our  country  has  produced,  and  his  name  will 
descend  to  posterity  among  the  brightest  of  those  who 
have  gained  their  reputation  strictly  at  the  bar. 

Nathaniel  Niles,  a  son  of  Samuel  Niles,  of  Brain- 
tree,  Massachusetts,  was  born  in  South  Kingston,  Rhode 
Island,  April  3,  1741.  In  college  he  held  a  high  rank  in 
general  scholarship,  but  excelled  more  particularly  in  the 
exact  sciences,  and  in  metaphysics.  He  was  an  able 
debater,  and  especially  skilled  in  the  Socratic  method  of 
arguing.  Itxwas  doubtless  this  trait  which  acquired  for 
him  and  his  brother  Samuel,  while  at  college,  the  appella 
tion  said  to  have  been  given  them — Botheration  Primus, 
and  Botheration  Secundus. 

After  his  graduation,  he  devoted  some  time  to  the 
study  of  medicine.  He  was  also  for  a  while  a  student 
of  law  ;  and  was  at  one  time  a  teacher  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  Among  his  pupils,  to  whom  he  taught  the  rudi 
ments  of  English  grammar,  was  Lindley  Murray,  after 
wards  the  celebrated  grammarian. 

Resolving  to  enter  the  ministry,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  theology,  under  Dr.  Bellamy,  and  in  due  time 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  had  many  invita 
tions  to  settle,  but  through  want  of  health  declined  them 
all,  and  was  never  ordained. 

He  took  up  his  residence  in  Norwich,  Connecticut,  and 

[112] 


1766. 

while  there  displayed  his  mechanical  talent  in  the  inven 
tion  of  a  method  of  making  wire  from  bar  iron  by  water 
power.  This  was  the  first  invention  of  the  kind  in  the 
United  States.  During  his  residence  in  Norwich  he  was 
several  times  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Connecti 
cut 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he  removed 
to  Vermont,  and  in  1784  he  was  speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives ;  and  for  many  years  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  From  1791  to  1795  he  represented 
Vermont  in  Congress.  As  a  metaphysician  and  intellec 
tual  philosopher  he  had  probably  few  superiors.  When 
not  absent  on  public  business,  he  preached  in  his  own 
house  for  twelve  years.  He  was  admitted  to'  a  Master's 
degree  at  Harvard  in  1772,  and  at  Dartmouth  in  1791. 

Mr.  Niles  was  one  of  the  most  able  and  vigorous 
writers  of  his  day.  He  wrote  the  "  American  Hero,"  a 
celebrated  sapphic  ode,  which  was  set  to  music,  and  was 
the  war  song  of  the  Revolution.  He  published  four  dis 
courses  on  Secret  Prayer  in  1773  ;  two  on  Confession 
and  Forgiveness  ;  two  on  the  Perfection  of  God  the  Foun 
tain  of  Good,  1777;  a  Sermon  on  Vain  Amusements; 
and  a  letter  on  the  power  of  sinners  to  make  new  hearts, 
1809.  He  also  wrote  largely  for  newspapers  and  maga 
zines.  He  maintained  his  studious  habits  through  life, 
and  in  his  latter  days  spent  much  time  in  reading  the 
Septuagint  Version  of  the  Bible.  He  died  in  the  utmost 
tranquillity,  October  31,  1828. 

James  Power  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pennsyl 
vania,  in  1746.  He  was  one  of  the  students  who  visited 
President  Finley  on  his  death-bed  in  Philadelphia ;  and 
the  affecting  scene  left  a  powerful  and  enduring  impres 
sion  on  his  mind. 

Mr.  Power  was  licensed   by  the  Presbytery  of  New 

Castle,  June  24,  1772.     The  next  year  he  travelled,  and 

preached  in  Virginia.     In  1774  he  crossed  the  mountains 

and   spent   three    months   as   a   missionary   in    Western 

8  ,I 


1766. 

Pennsylvania,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  East  and 
supplied  a  church  in  Maryland.  In  1776  he  was  ordained, 
and  removed  permanently  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  supplying  various  churches,  was  installed  pastor  of 
Mount  Pleasant  and  Sewickly  churches  in  1779.  In  1787 
his  connection  with  the  Sewickly  church  was  dissolved ; 
and  from  that  time  until  April,  1817,  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  Mount  Pleasant  Church,  when,  on  account  of  age 
and  infirmity,  he  gave  up  his  charge.  He  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Jefferson  College  in 
1808. 

In  person,  Dr.  Power  was  slender,  erect,  and  of  me 
dium  size.  His  manners  were  easy  and  graceful,  and 
free  from  affectation.  In  his  dress,  he  was  always  plain, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  extremely  neat ;  so  that  it  was  a 
matter  of  surprise  that  he  could  ride  on  horseback  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  in  a  rough  country,  over  muddy  roads,  and 
yet  appear  in  the  pulpit,  or  rather  on  a  preaching-stand 
in  the  woods,  as  neat  and  clean  as  if  he  had  the  minute 
before  come  from  his  toilet.  He  always  rode  a  good 
horse,  and  it  was  believed  he  was  a  good  judge  of  that 
animal,  and  that  he  selected  one  with  such  a  movement 
as  would  not  throw  mud  or  dust  on  the  rider.  In  his 
conversation  and  manners  he  was  dignified  and  precise, 
seldom  if  ever  indulging  in  anything  like  wit  or  levity. 
And  yet  he  was  sociable,  and  far  from  being  morose  or 
censorious.  His  voice  was  not  loud,  but  remarkably 
clear  and  distinct.  His  enunciation  was  so  perfect,  that 
the  whole  volume  of  his  voice  was  used  in  conveying  to 
his  hearers  the  words  he  uttered.  He  always  preached 
without  notes,  but  his  discourses  were  clear,  methodical 
and  evangelical.  During  the  Revolution,  Dr.  Power 
lived  in  the  midst  of  Indian  wars  and  alarms.  The 
church  in  which  he  preached  was  of  logs,  upon  which 
no  plane,  hammer,  saw  nor  nail  were  used.  The  win 
dows  were  small  openings  cut  in  adjacent  logs,  and 
glazed  with  paper  or  white  linen  oiled  with  hog's  lard  or 
bear's  grease. 


1766. 

Such  was  one  of  our  pioneer  preachers  in  the  West. 
To  Dr.  Power,  with  Thaddeus  Dod  and  John  McMillan, 
all  graduates  of  Princeton,  belongs  the  honour  of  firmly 
establishing  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  Western 
Wilderness.  Dr.  Power  died  at  an  advanced  age  in 
1830. 

Isaac  Skillman,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  after  grad 
uating,  became  a  Baptist  Minister,  and  in  1773  was 
chosen  pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in  Boston. 
Here  he  remained  until  1787,  when  he  returned  to  New 
Jersey.  In  November  1790,  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Salem,  New  Jersey,  where  he  re 
mained  until  the  close  of  his  life,  June  8,  1799.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Rhode 
Island  College  in  1774. 

Dr.  Skillman  was  a  man  of  learning  and  ability,  but 
never  very  popular  as  a  preacher. 

Samuel  Smith  and  William  Smith  were  probably 
sons  of  Samuel  Smith,  of  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  who, 
in  1765,  published  his  valuable  History  of  New  Jersey. 
I  know  nothing  of  them  after  their  graduation. 

Alplieus  Spring  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  He 
became  a  Congregational  Minister,  and  settled  at  Eliot, 
Massachusetts,  June  29,  1768.  Mr.  Spring  died  sud 
denly,  June  14,  1791.  He  was  much  beloved  by  his 
people,  and  highly  respected  by  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry.  Mr.  Spring  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree 
at  Dartmouth  in  1785. 

Benjamin  Stelle  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Stelle, 
pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  at  Piscataway,  New  Jersey. 
Through  the  influence  of  President  Manning,  of  Brown 
University,  he  went  to  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  after 
leaving  college,  and  established  a  Latin  School.  Here 
he  met  with  encouraging  success,  giving  great  satisfaction 


1766. 

to  his  patrons,  and  being  highly  esteemed  throughout 
the  community.  In  1774  Mr.  Stelle  was  admitted  to  a 
Master's  degree  at  Rhode  Island  College. 

Micah  Townseiid  came  to  college  from  Vermont, 
to  which  State  he  returned  after  his  graduation,  and  soon 
became  active  in  public  affairs.  In  1781  he  was  appointed 
Secretary  of  State,  and  in  1785  was  elected  one  of  the 
Council  of  Censors.  In  1786,  he  was  again  Secretary  of 
State. 

John  Woodlmll  was  born  in  Suffolk  County,  Long 
Island.  He  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  John  Blair, 
and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  in 
1768,  and  commenced  his  career  with  much  more  than 
ordinary  popularity.  On  one  occasion,  while  preaching 
as  a  licentiate,  sixty  persons  were  hopefully  converted  by 
hearing  him  preach  in  a  private  house.  He  had  many 
calls,  but  chose  to  settle  at  Leacock,  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  installed  August  i,  1770. 
Mr.  Woodhull  was  a  strenuous  Whig,  and  while  in  this 
charge  advocated  the  cause  so  eloquently  from  the  pul 
pit,  that  he  succeeded  in  enlisting  as  soldiers  every  male 
member  of  his  congregation  capable  of  bearing  arms,  he 
going  with  them  as  chaplain.  In  1779  he  succeeded  the 
Rev.  William  Tennent  at  Freehold,  New  Jersey.  Dur 
ing  many  years  of  his  ministry  he  conducted  a  grammar 
school,  and  superintended  the  studies  of  young  men  pre 
paring  for  the  ministry.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Col 
lege  for  forty-four  years.  Mr.  Woodhull  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Yale  in  1798. 

Joseph  Woodman  became  a  Congregational  Minis 
ter,  and  settled  at  Sanborn  Town,  New  Hampshire,  in 
1771.  He  was  released  from  his  charge  November  13, 
1806,  and  died  in  Sanborn  Town,  April  28,  1807. 


[1.6] 


1767. 

Francis  Barber,  a  native  of  Princeton,  New  Jersey, 
after  graduating,  took  charge  of  an  Academy  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  New  Jersey.  The  school  soon  became  distin 
guished.  Alexander  Hamilton  was  prepared  for  college 
under  Mr.  Barber.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revo 
lution  he  offered  his  services  to  the  country,  and  on  the 
9th  of  February,  1776,  he  was  appointed,  by  the  Legisla 
ture,  Major  of  the  Third  Battalion,  New  Jersey  troops, 
and  on  November  8th  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment,  and  on  January  i, 
1777,  he  received  his  commission  from  Congress.  Soon 
after  this  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Inspector-General 
under  Baron  Steuben. 

Colonel  Barber  was  in  constant  service  during  the 
whole  war.  Although  a  strict  and  rigid  disciplinarian, 
always  scrupulously  performing  his  own  duty,  and  re 
quiring  it  from  all  under  his  command,  yet  so  bland  were 
his  manners,  and  his  whole  conduct  so  tempered  with 
justice  and  strict  propriety,  that  he  was  the  favourite  of 
all  the  officers  and  men,  and  highly  valued  by  Wash 
ington. 

Colonel  Barber  was  in  many  battles.  He  served  in 
the  Northern  army  under  General  Schuyler  ;  was  at  the 
battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandywine,  Germantown 
and  Monmouth,  and  in  the  latter  was  severely  wounded. 
In  1779  he  served  as  Adjutant-General  with  General  Sul 
livan  in  his  memorable  expedition  against  the  Indians, 
where  he  distinguished  himself  and  was  again  wounded. 
In  1780  he  was  conspicuously  engaged  with  the  army  in 
New  Jersey,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Springfield.  In 
1781  he  accompanied  the  Jersey  line  to  Virginia,  and 


1767. 

was  at  the  investment  and  capture  of  the  British  at  York- 
town. 

The  day  on  which  the  Commander-in-Chief  intended 
to  communicate  the  joyful  intelligence  of  Peace  to  the 
army,  a  number  of  the  officers,  with  their  families,  were 
invited  to  dine  with  him,  and  among  others,  Colonel  Bar 
ber  and  his  wife.  He  was  acting  at  the  time  as  officer  of 
the  day  in  place  of  a  friend.  While  on  duty,  and  passing 
by  the  edge  of  a  wood  where  some  soldiers  were  cutting 
down  a  tree,  it  fell  on  him,  and  both  rider  and  horse  were 
instantly  crushed  to  death. 

Richard  Deveiis.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Devens  re 
sided  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born 
October  23,  1749.  His  friends  seeing  signs  of  a  remarka 
ble  intellect  in  the  boy,  prevailed  upon  his  parents  to 
give  him  an  education,  and  he  was  sent  to  Princeton.  At 
his  graduation  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class.  For 
three  years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  various 
schools  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  In  1770  he  was 
appointed  tutor  in  the  College,  where  he  remained  until 
1774,  when  in  consequence  of  too  close  and  intense  appli 
cation  to  his  studies,  he  became  insane.  I  do  not  dis 
cover  that  he  ever  recovered  his  reason.  Previous  to 
this  he  had  written  "  A  Paraphrase  on  some  parts  of  the 
Book  of  Job,"  which  gave  evidence  of  a  high  poetical 
talent.  From  the  appearance  of  the  manuscript  it  seems 
to  have  been  an  unfinished  work,  and  written  probably 
for  the  author's  private  amusement.  It  was  published  by 
his  friends  in  Boston  in  1795,  at  which  time  Mr.  Devens 
was  still  living. 

Nathaniel  Ramsay,  a  brother  of  David  Ramsay, 
the  Historian,  after  graduating,  studied  law  and  became 
eminent  in  his  profession.  When  the  war  of  the  Revolu 
tion  began,  Mr.  Ramsay,  full  of  patriotic  ardour,  joined 
the  Maryland  line  as  a  Major,  and  soon  rose  to  the  rank 
of  Colonel.  At  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  when  our  army 

[118] 


1767. 

was  pressed  by  the  enemy  advancing  rapidly,  General 
Washington  asked  for  an  officer ;  Colonel  Ramsay  pre 
sented  himself;  the  General  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
said,  "  If  you  can  stop  the  British  ten  minutes,  till  I  can 
form,  you  will  save  my  army."  Colonel  Ramsay  answer 
ed,  "  I  will  stop  them  or  fall."  He  advanced  with  his 
party,  engaged  and  kept  them  in  check  for  half  an  hour; 
nor  did  he  retreat  until  the  enemy  and  his  troops  were 
mingled,  and  at  last,  in  the  rear  of  his  troops,  fighting 
his  way,  sword  in  hand,  fell  pierced  with  many  wounds 
in  the  sight  of  both  armies. 

From  1785  to  1787  Colonel  Ramsay  represented  Mary 
land  in  the  Continental  Congress.  He  resumed  and  con 
tinued  the  practice  of  law  in  Baltimore  until  his  death, 
which  occurred,  October  24,  1817. 

William  Schenck  was  a  native  of  Allentown,  New 
Jersey.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  in  1771  and  ordained  in  1772.  After  preach 
ing  at  various  places  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  he 
was  finally  settled,  in  1780,  at  Pittsgrove  and  Cape  May, 
where  he  remained  until  1787,  when  he  removed  to  Ball- 
ston,  New  York.  Towards  the  close  of  1793  he  removed 
to  Huntingdon,  Long  Island,  and  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  December  27th  of  that  year. 
In  1817  he  left  Huntingdon  and  removed  to  Franklin, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  pastor  for  several  years,  and  died 
September  i,  1822.  Mr.  Schenck  was  the  grandfather  of 
the  Hon.  Robert  C.  Schenck,  Minister  to  Great  Britain. 
He  was  a  dignified,  excellent  man,  though  not  distin 
guished  as  a  great  or  popular  preacher.  His  labours 
were  acceptable,  and  his  church  received  large  accessions 
under  his  ministry. 

Samuel  Whitham  Stockton  was  a  brother  of  the 
elder  Richard  Stockton.  In  1774  he  went  to  Europe  as 
Secretary  of  the  American  Commission  to  the  courts  of 
Austria  and  Prussia.  While  abroad  he  negotiated  a 

[119] 


i767. 

treaty  with  Holland.  He  returned  to  New  Jersey  in 
1779,  where  he  held  various  public  offices.  In  1794  he 
was  Secretary  of  State  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Stockton 
lost  his  life  in  being  thrown  from  a  carriage  in  the  streets 
of  Trenton,  June  27,  1795. 

Hugh  Vance  received  his  license  to  preach  from 
Donegal  Presbytery  about  1771,  and  in  1772  was  or 
dained  and  settled  as  pastor  of  Tuscarora  and  Back 
Creek  Churches  in  Virginia.  The  only  notice  that  I  find 
of  him  after  this,  is  in  the  journal  of  Rev.  William  Hill, 
kept  while  on  a  missionary  tour  soon  after  his  licensure. 
He  records  under  the  date  of  September  17,  1791,  "  Vis 
ited  Mr.  Vance,  who  was  upon  the  borders  of  the  grave 
in  the  last  stage  of  consumption."  The  next  day  he 
preached  for  Mr.  Vance  to  a  small  audience,  and  records : 
"  Mr.  Vance  rode  out,  and  lay  in  one  of  the  pews  while  I 
preached."  He  died  December  31,  1791. 

[120] 


1768. 

Robert  Blackwell  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Francis 
Blackwell  of  Long  Island,  New  York,  and  descended 
of  an  ancient  family  originally  of  England.  The  subject 
of  this  notice  was  born  May  6,  1/48.  After  his  gradua 
tion  he  entered  upon  theological  studies  with  a  view  of 
entering  the  ministry  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  June 
n,  1772,  he  was  ordained  a  Deacon  in  the  chapel  of  Ful- 
ham  Palace,  near  London,  by  Bishop  Richard  Terrick  ; 
and  subsequently  to  the  order  of  the  priesthood.  Re 
turning  to  the  Provinces,  he  was  stationed  in  the  south 
ern  part  of  New  Jersey  as  a  missionary  of  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts ;  in  this 
capacity  officiating  at  Gloucester  and  Waterford,  and 
Greenwich.  The  war  of  the  Revolution  of  course  broke 
up  the  operations  of  the  Propagation  Society  in  the 
Provinces,  and  most  of  its  missionaries  returned  to  Great 
Britain.  The  family  of  Mr.  Blackwell,  who  were  consid 
erable  proprietors  of  land  on  Long  Island,  having  es 
poused  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  he  naturally  did  the 
same.  A  certificate  of  General  Anthony  Wayne,  now 
before  us,  testifies  that  he  was  "  Chaplain  to  the  First 
Pennsylvania  Brigade  and  surgeon  to  one  of  the  regi 
ments  in  the  year  1778,  and  that  he  took  and  subscribed 
the  oath  as  directed  by  Congress,  at  the  Valley  Forge,  in 
common  with  other  officers  of  the  line." 

In  1781,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Coombe,  one  of  the  Assistant 
Ministers  of  the  United  Churches  of  Christ  Church  and 
St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia,  having  retired  to  England  in 
1778,  owing  to  the  continuance  of  the  Revolution,  Mr. 
Blackwell  was  called  to  his  place.  He  was  accordingly, 
from  1781  till  1811,  Senior  Assistant  Minister,  and  during 

[  121] 


i768. 

the  closing  years  of  the  War  of  Independence,  one  of  the 
only  two  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England,  whom  the 
desolations  of  those  times  left  in  the  extensive  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  friend  and  ministerial  associate  of 
thirty  years,  the  Rev.  William  White,  afterwards  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese,  being  the  other. 

A  cenotaph  inscription  designed  for  a  tablet  on  the 
east  exterior  end  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia, 
over  the  vault  of  William  Bingham,  in  which  Dr.  Black- 
well  with  his  daughter  and  several  of  his  descendants  is 
buried,  thus  speaks  of  him  :  "  In  the  Councils  of  the 
Church  which  he  assisted  to  found  in  these  United 
States,  and  in  the  earliest  and  most  important  of  whose 
conventions,  both  General  and  Diocesan,  he  was  a  con 
stant  participator,  he  acquired  general  respect  by  his 
adherence  to  principle,  his  temperateness  of  conduct, 
and  the  practical  wisdom  of  all  his  suggestions. 

"  In  the  sphere  of  Parochial  Charge  he  was  distinguish 
ed  by  propriety  of  life,  and  by  the  sincerity  of  feeling,  the 
clearness  of  argument  and  soundness  of  scholarship,  with 
which  in  the  spirit  of  charity  he  inculcated  the  duties 
and  doctrines  of  religion.  Blessed  in  his  private  station 
with  fortune  above  what  is  common  to  his  profession,  he 
gave  a  convincing  proof  of  the  effect  on  his  own  heart  of 
those  precepts  which  he  urged  upon  others,  in  an  unos 
tentatious  but  constant  and  liberal  charity  towards  the 
poor;  from  whom  his  face  was  never  turned  away,  nor 
any  petitions  for  relief  addressed  in  vain.  He  was  not 
more  respectable  in  his  public  and  sacred  office,  than 
amiable  and  engaging  in  social  and  domestic  life.  A 
fine  person  and  benignant  countenance,  with  a  natural 
sweetness  of  temper  and  delicacy  of  feeling,  united 
to  manners  refined  by  early  associations,  and  made 
liberal  by  foreign  travel,  and  intercourse  with  military 
life  and  character  rendered  him  eminently  agreeable 
to  all." 

Dr.  Blackwell  died  February  12,  1831,  in  his  eighty- 
third  year. 

[122] 


1768. 

Ephraim  Brevard  was  of  Huguenot  extraction. 
After  graduating,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  North 
Carolina  and  studied  medicine,  and  entered  upon  prac 
tice.  He  is  especially  distinguished  for  the  part  he  took 
in  the  Mecklenburg  Convention,  where,  beyond  question, 
he  was  the  leading  spirit.  The  evidence  is  pretty  clear 
that  he  drafted  the  Resolutions  which  have  become  so 
noted,  as  a  copy  was  found  in  his  handwriting  among  his 
papers.  The  papers  which  he  drew  up  entitled  "  In 
structions  for  the  delegates  of  Mecklenburg  County,  pro 
posed  to  the  Consideration  of  the  County,"  containing 
seventeen  articles,  will  not  suffer  in  comparison  with  any 
political  paper  of  the  age.  Democratic  republican  prin 
ciples  are  announced  in  their  full  extent — complete  pro 
tection  and  extensive  suffrage.  The  most  remarkable 
articles  are  those  which  assert  religious  liberty.  The 
merit  of  Ephraim  Brevard  is,  not  that  he  originated  these 
principles,  or  was  singular  in  adhering  to  them,  but  that 
he  embodied  them  in  so  condensed  a  form,  and  expressed 
them  so  well. 

When  the  British  forces  invaded  the  Southern  States, 
Dr.  Brevard  entered  the  arm}^  as  surgeon,  and  was 
taken  prisoner  at  the  surrender  of  Charleston,  May 
12,  1780.  His  sufferings  and  the  sufferings  of  those 
taken  prisoners  at  the  same  time,  were  extreme,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  the  tender  care  of  some  patri 
otic  women,  among  whom  was  the  mother  of  An 
drew  Jackson,  would  have  been  unbearable.  As  it 
was  multitudes  perished,  and  Ephraim  Brevard  con 
tracted  a  wasting  fever  which  soon  brought  him  to 
his  end.  He  gave  "life,  fortune,  and  most  sacred  hon 
our  "  in  his  country's  service.  The  first  was  sacrificed ; 
the  last  is  imperishable.  He  died  towards  the  close 
of  1780. 

A  British  officer  was  once  asked  why  he  plundered  the 
farm  and  burnt  the  house  of  widow  Brevard,  the  mother 
of  Ephraim  ;  the  answer  was  "  She  has  seven  sons  in  the 
rebel  army." 


1768. 

Pierpont  Edwards,  a  son  of  President  Edwards, 
studied  law,  and  was  for  many  years  distinguished  at  the 
Connecticut  Bar.  At  one  time  he  was  Judge  of  the 
United  States  Court  for  the  District  of  Connecticut. 
From  1787  to  1788  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress. 

Judge  Edwards  died  April  14,  1826. 

William  Churchill  Houston  was  born  in  South 
Carolina.  Before  his  graduation,  he  had  charge  of  the 
grammar  school  of  the  college.  In  1769  he  was  appointed 
tutor,  and  in  1771  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathema 
tics  and  Natural  Philosophy  in  the  college.  In  1783  he 
resigned  his  Chair,  having  been  previously  admitted  to 
the  Bar. 

Removing  to  Trenton,  he  soon  acquired  a  large  prac 
tice,  notwithstanding  his  rigid  adherence  to  the  determi 
nation  that  he  would  never  undertake  a  cause  which  he 
did  not  believe  to  be  just.  Mr.  Houston  was  five  times 
elected  to  the  Continental  Congress  —  the  first  time  in 
1779.  He  was  one  of  the  three  delegates  of  New  Jersey 
to  the  body  of  Commissioners  which  met  at  Annapolis  in 
1786,  which  resulted  in  suggesting  the  Convention  which 
framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
appointed  to  that  Convention,  but  declining  health  pre 
vented  his  attendance.  He  died  at  Frankfort,  Pennsyl 
vania,  in  1788. 

Adlai  Osborne  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Osborne, 
a  colonel  in  the  Colonial  Army.  After  graduating, 
Mr.  Osborne  returned  to  his  home  in  North  Carolina, 
and  was  soon  appointed  Clerk  of  Rowan  County,  under 
Royal  rule,  and  held  the  same  office  after  the  war  until 
1809.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  literary  attainments,  and  an 
earnest  advocate  for  education.  During  the  Revolution, 
he  served  as  a  colonel  in  the  American  Army.  Mr. 
Osborne  was  one  of  the  original  Trustees  of  the  Univer 
sity  of  North  Carolina.  He  died  in  1815. 

[1*4] 


1768. 

Thomas  Reese  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1742. 
Removing  to  North  Carolina  with  his  parents,  when 
quite  young,  he  was  prepared  for  college  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Alexander.  Returning  to  South  Carolina  after  his  grad 
uation,  he  studied  theology,  and  was  licensed  by  Orange 
Presbytery  in  1773,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  over 
Salem  Church  in  the  same  year.  During  the  years  1780 
and  1781,  all  public  worship  was  suspended,  and  most  of 
the  town  and  country  churches  were  burned,  or  made 
depots  for  the  stores  of  the  enemy.  Mr.  Reese  was 
thereupon  compelled  to  abandon  the  field,  while  many 
of  his  congregation  were  cruelly  murdered.  After  the 
peace,  Mr.  Reese  pursued  his  duties  with  an  ardour  and 
diligence  rarely  exceeded.  In  1792  he  accepted  a  call 
to  two  churches  in  Pendleton  District,  hoping  to  benefit 
his  health  by  the  change.  Mr.  Reese  received  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Princeton  in  1794.  Dr.  Reese 
held  a  conspicuous  place  among  learned  and  good  men. 
He  was  an  accomplished  scholar.  His  appearance  in 
the  pulpit  wras  graceful  and  dignified,  his  style  flowing 
and  elegant.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  writing  out  his 
sermons  with  great  care,  and  seldom,  if  ever,  took  the 
manuscript  in  the  pulpit.  His  flowing  tears  and  often 
suppressed  voice  told  the  feelings  of  the  heart  anxious 
only  for  the  salvation  of  souls  and  the  glory  of  God.  As 
a  teacher,  he  had  a  peculiar  faculty  of  communicating 
knowledge,  and  the  happy  talent  of  commanding  respect 
without  severity.  For  a  period  of  five  or  six  years  of 
his  life,  and  that,  too,  past  the  meridian,  exclusive  of  his 
performing  the  regular  duties  of  a  pastor,  preaching  on 
the  Sabbaths,  and  lecturing  to  the  coloured  part  of  his 
congregation,  he  superintended  a  small  farm,  and  at 
tended  to  a  large  classical  school.  He  died  in  1796. 

The  publications  of  Dr.  Reese  are :  An  Essay  on  the  Influence  of  Re 
ligion  in  Civil  Society,  which  is  preserved  in  the  American  Museum.  A 
Sermon  on  The  Death  of  Christians  is  Gain,  in  the  "American  Preacher," 
vol.  i.  A  Sermon  on  the  Character  of  Haman,  in  the  "American  Preacher," 
vol  11.  A  Farewell  Sermon. 


i768. 

Thomas  Smith  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle  about  1772,  and  ordained  and  settled  as  pas 
tor  of  Middleton  and  Pecander  Churches  in  Delaware  in 
1774.  He  died  January  25,  1792. 

Isaac  Story  became  a  Congregational  Minister,  and 
settled  at  Marblehead,  Massachusetts,  in  1771.  After 
preaching  thirty  years,  he  left  the  ministry  and  engaged 
in  secular  pursuits.  He  died  in  1816. 

Dr.  Allen,  in  his  Biographical  Dictionary,  confounds 
Mr.  Story  with  his  son,  Isaac  Story,  Esq.,  a  young  lawyer 
of  Marblehead  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and  credits 
to  the  father  "An  Epistle  from  Yarico  to  Inkle,"  which 
was  written  by  the  son.  Dr.  Sprague  perpetuates  the 
error  in  a  note  in  his  invaluable  annals. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Story  are,  according  to  Dr.  Allibone  :    A  Dis 
course,  Salem,  1795,  8vo.     A  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  1796,  8vo. 

Elias  Van  Bimschooten  received  his  license  to 
preach  in  1773,  and  settled  over  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  at  Schaghticoke,  on  the  Hudson,  where  he  la 
boured  until  1785,  when  he  resigned.  On  the  2gth  of 
August  of  the  same  year  he  was  installed  over  three 
churches  in  Orange  County,  New  York.  His  parochial 
charge  extended  fifty  miles,  through  which  the  settler's 
axe  had  forced  a  few  rough  horse  tracks.  In  1792  he 
gathered  an  additional  church  at  the  Clove,  now  Port 
Jervis,  where  he  resided  until  1812,  when,  on  account  of 
the  infirmities  of  age,  he  withdrew  from  active  duties. 
He  died  January  10,  1815.  Mr.  Van  Bunschooten  left  a 
large  legacy  to  Rutgers  College. 

He  was  in  person  about  six  feet  in  height,  erect  and 
stately  in  his  carriage,  and  was  a  man  of  great  sternness 
of  character.  His  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  earnest  and 
impressive,  and  his  sermons  highly  evangelical.  He 
preached  both  in  Dutch  and  English. 


1769. 

John  Beatty,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Beatty,  after 
studying  medicine  with  Dr.  Rush,  entered  the  army  as  a 
private  soldier,  reaching-,  by  degrees,  the  rank  of  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel.  In  1776  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy 
at  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington,  and  suffered  a  long 
and  rigorous  imprisonment.  In  1779  he  succeeded  Elias 
Boudinot  as  Commissioner-General  of  prisoners.  After 
the  war  he  settled  at  Princeton,  where  he  practiced  med 
icine.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
of  New  Jersey,  and  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly.  From 
1795  to  1805  he  was  Secretary  of  State  of  New  Jersey. 
In  1783  and  1784  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  From  May,  1815,  until  his  death,  he  was  Pres 
ident  of  the  Trenton  Banking  Company.  He  was  also 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Beatty  was 
President  of  the  Company  which  built  the  noble  bridge 
that  unites  Trenton  to  his  native  county  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  on  May  24,  1804,  he  laid  the  foundation  stone  of  its 
first  pier.  He  died  April  30,  1826,  full  of  honour. 

William  Lawrence  Blair  was  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
John  Blair,  who  was  at  one  time  the  Vice-President  of 
the  College,  and  acting  President.  He  studied  law  after 
his  graduation,  and  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  we  lose 
sight  of  him. 

Mathias  Burnet  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  by  the  Presby 
tery  of  New  York,  April,  1775.  Here  he  exercised  his 
ministry  during  the  whole  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

[127] 


1769. 

Unlike  nearly  all  the  Presbyterian  clergy  of  the  country, 
he  never  declared  in  favour  of  our  Independence.  It  was 
generally  understood  that  his  sympathies  were  with  the 
enemy.  Hence,  no  doubt,  it  was  that  while  Jamaica  was 
occupied  by  the  British  army,  he  was  permitted  to  exer 
cise  his  ministerial  functions  without  molestation.  He 
left  Jamaica  in  1785,  and  was  settled  over  a  Congrega 
tional  Church  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut ;  in  which  year 
he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Yale. 
He  continued  in  Norwalk  until  his  death,  which  occur 
red  June  30,  1806.  Dr.  Burnet  was  a  native  of  Bottle 
Hill,  New  Jersey. 

He  published  an  Election  Sermon.  1803.  And  two  Sermons,  one  in  the 
second  and  the  other  in  the  third  volume  of  the  "  American  Preacher."  1791. 

William  Chaimiiig  became  a  distinguished  lawyer 
at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  and  was  at  one  time  United 
States  District-Attorney  for  Rhode  Island.  He  was  the 
father  of  William  Ellery  Channing  the  elder.  He  died 
in  1793. 

John  Davenport  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  James 
Davenport,  of  Southold,  Long  Island.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Suffolk,  June  4,  1775,  and  served  the 
Congregation  in  Southold,  Long  Island,  for  two  years. 
On  the  1 2th  of  August,  1795,  he  was  settled  at  Deerfield, 
New  Jersey,  but  resigned  in  1805  on  account  of  failing 
health.  He  died  July  13,  1821. 

John  Rodgers  Davies,  a  son  of  President  Davies, 
studied  law  and  practiced  in  Sussex  County,  Virginia, 
but  never  rose  to  any  eminence.  He  died  in  1836. 

Peter  Dewitt  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Living 
ston,  and  was  licensed  by  the  General  Meeting  of  Minis 
ters  and  Elders  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  1778. 
From  1787  to  1798,  he  was  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Churches  of  Rhinebeck,  Rhinebeck  Flats,  and  upper  Red 

[  1*81 


1769. 

Hook,  New  York,  and  from  1799  to  1809,  he  was  pastor 
of  the  churches  of  Ponds  and  Wyckoff,  Bergen  County, 
New  Jersey.  He  died  in  1809. 

John  Henry  represented  Maryland  in  the  Continen 
tal  Congress  from  1 778  to  1 78 1,  and  again  from  1784  to  1787. 
In  1789  he  was  elected  to  the  first  Senate  of  the  United 
States  under  the  Constitution.  He  had  as  fellow  mem 
bers  two  other  graduates  of  Princeton — Oliver  Ellsworth, 
of  Connecticut,  and  William  Paterson,  of  New  Jersey.  In 
1797  Mr.  Henry  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  having 
been  elected  Governor  of  Maryland.  He  died  in  De 
cember,  1798. 

James  Linn  represented  the  State  of  New  Jersey  in 
Congress  from  1799  to  1801,  when  he  was  appointed,  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  Supervisor  of  the  Revenue.  Mr.  Linn  was 
also  for  many  years,  Secretary  of  State  of  New  Jersey. 
He  died  December  28,  1820. 

Thomas  Melville  was  the  son  of  Allan  Melville,  a 
merchant  of  Boston.  Immediately  after  his  graduation, 
he  visited  his  relatives  in  Scotland,  and  during  that  visit 
he  was  presented  with  the  freedom  of  the  city  of  St.  An 
drews  and  of  Renfrew.  He  returned  to  America  in  1773, 
when  he  entered  into  mercantile  life  in  Boston.  In  De 
cember  of  that  year  he  was  one  of  the  famous  "  Tea  Par 
ty."  Mr.  Melville  took  an  active  part  in  the  Revolution 
ary  war,  and  as  Major  in  Craft's  regiment  of  Massachu 
setts  Artillery,  was  in  the  action  in  Rhode  Island  in  1776. 
Commissioned  by  Washington  in  1789  as  Naval  Officer  of 
the  Port  of  Boston,  he  was  continued  by  all  the  Presidents 
down  to  Jackson's  time  in  1829.  To  the  time  of  his  death 
he  continued  to  wear  the  antiquated  three-cornered  hat, 
and  from  this  habit  was  familiarly  known  in  Boston,  as 
the  last  of  the  Cocked  Hats. 

There  is  still  preserved  a  small  parcel  of  the  veritable 
tea,  in  the  attack  upon  which  he  took  an  active  part. 
9  [  l 29  ] 


1769. 

This  historic  tea  was  found  in  his  shoes  the  morning  after 
he  returned  from  his  expedition,  and  was  sealed  up  in  a 
vial,  and  was  at  one  time  in  possession  of  Chief  Justice 
Shaw,  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Melville  died  in  1832. 

Samuel  Niles,  a  brother  of  Nathaniel  Niles,  of  the 
class  of  1766,' was  born  at  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  De 
cember  14,  1743.  Mr.  Niles  studied  theology  with  Dr. 
Bellamy,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  November  7,  1770. 
He  first  supplied  a  church  at  Abington,  Massachusetts, 
then  preached  in  Boston  for  a  short  time,  and  then  re 
turned  to  Abington,  and  was  installed  September  25,  1771. 
Mr.  Niles  continued  to  preach  here  until  1811,  when  he 
suffered  a  paralytic  shock  and  was  laid  aside  from  work. 
He  died  January  16,  1814. 

Mr.  Niles  was  endowed  with  superior  intellectual  and 
reasoning  powers.  He  had  a  clear  and  profound  knowl 
edge  of  the  truth,  connection,  harmony,  and  consistency 
of  the  first  principles  and  essential  doctrines  of  Christi 
anity,  and  on  this  account  became  a  most  powerful  and 
instructive  preacher.  His  grave  and  dignified  appear 
ance  in  the  pulpit,  in  connection  with  his  truly  genuine 
eloquence,  could  hardly  fail  to  strike  his  audience  writh 
awe  and  reverence,  and  to  render  him  one  of  the  most 
popular  preachers  of  his  day.  He  was  intimately  ac 
quainted  with  human  nature,  and  could  render  himself 
agreeable  in  common  intercourse  with  all  classes  of  peo 
ple  ;  but  he  was  more  especially  entertaining  in  private 
circles,  by  the  flashes  of  his  wit,  and  his  curious,  amus 
ing,  striking  and  pertinent  anecdotes. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Niles  are,  Remarks  on  a  Sermon  by  John  Reid. 
1813.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Washington.  1800.  A  Sermon  before 
the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society.  1801. 

Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  a  son  of  Rev.  Robert 
Smith,  a  distinguished  clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania, 
March  16,  1750.  After  leaving  college,  he  returned  to 


1769. 

his  father's  house,  assisting  him  in  a  school,  and  giving 
special  attention  to  Belles-Lettres,  and  Moral  and  Intel 
lectual  Philosophy.  In  1770,  he  was  appointed  tutor  at 
Princeton,  where  he  remained  three  years.  In  1773,  he 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  Feeling 
the  need  of  a  change  of  climate,  he  went  as  a  missionary 
to  Virginia,  where  he  soon  became  a  universal  favourite  ; 
persons  without  distinction  of  sect  or  of  rank  flocked  to 
hear  him.  Some  of  his  most  influential  and  wealthy 
friends  resolved  to  retain  him  in  Virginia  and  place  him 
at  the  head  of  a  literary  institution.  Accordingly  funds 
were  soon  collected,  and  the  buildings  were  erected  in 
Prince  Edward  County,  and  a  Charter  obtained  under 
the  name  of  Hampden  Sidney  College.  While  all  this 
was  going  on,  Mr.  Smith  was  laboriously  engaged  in 
his  missionary  work.  After  a  little  time,  having  married 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  he  took  his  place  at 
the  head  of  the  college.  In  1779,  he  was  invited  to  the 
Chair  of  Moral  Philosophy  at  Princeton,  which  he  ac 
cepted.  On  arriving  at  Princeton,  he  found  the  affair's 
of  the  college  in  a  deplorable  condition,  occasioned  by 
the  war,  and  the  occupation  of  Dr.  Witherspoon  in  the 
higher  affairs  of  the  nation.  Mainly  by  the  energy,  wis 
dom  and  self-devotion  of  Mr.  Smith,  the  college  was 
speedily  re-organized,  and  its  usual  exercises  resumed. 
In  1782,  his  life  was  seriously  threatened  by  hemorrhage 
from  the  lungs  ;  but  he  gradually  recovered  his  usual 
health.  In  1783,  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Yale,  and  in  1810,  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws  from  Harvard. 

In  1794,  Dr.  Witherspoon  died,  and  Dr.  Smith  suc 
ceeded  him  in  the  Presidential  Chair.  Dr.  A.  Alexander 
who  saw  him  about  this  time,  said,  "  I  have  never  seen 
his  equal  in  elegance  of  person  and  manners.  Dignity 
and  winning  grace  were  remarkably  united  in  his  ex 
pressive  countenance.  His  large  blue  eyes  had  a  pene 
tration  which  commanded  the  respect  of  all  beholders. 
Notwithstanding  the  want  of  health,  his  cheek  had  a 

[131] 


1769. 

bright  rosy  tint,  and  his  smile  lighted  up  the  whole  face. 
The  tones  of  his  elocution  had  a  thrilling  peculiarity,  and 
this  was  more  remarkable  in  his  preaching,  where  it  is 
well  known  that  he  imitated  the  elaborate  polish  and 
oratorical  glow  of  the  French  school.  Little  of  this  im 
pression  can  be  derived  from  his  published  discourses, 
which  disappoint  those  who  do  not  know  the  charm  of 
his  delivery." 

His  reputation  as  a  pulpit  orator  at  this  time  was  very 
great.  Visitors  from  Philadelphia  and  New  York  were 
accustomed  to  go  to  Princeton  to  hear  his  Baccalaureate 
Discourses,  which  were  always  of  the  highest  order.  In 
1802,  when  the  institution  was  at  the  full-tide  of  its  pros 
perity,  the  college  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire,  with  the 
libraries,  furniture,  etc.  Dr.  Smith  assumed  the  labour 
of  collecting  money  to  rebuild  ;  and  he  was  successful  in 
raising  during  the  year,  about  $100,000  from  the  South 
ern  States,  and  much  from  other  parts  of  the  Union. 
This  was  his  crowning  achievement.  In  1812,  through 
repeated  strokes  of  palsy,  he  became  too  much  enfeebled 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  at  the  Com 
mencement  he  sent  in  to  the  Trustees  his  resignation. 

He  died  August  21,  1819,  in  the  utmost  tranquillity,  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  his  age. 

The  publications  of  Dr.  Smith  are  :  An  Essay  on  the  Causes  of  the  Variety 
of  Complexion  and  Figure  of  the  Human  Species  ;  to  which  are  added  Stric 
tures  on  Lord  Kaime's  Discourse  on  the  Original  Diversity  of  Mankind,  i  vol. 
8vo,  1787.  A  Volume  of  Sermons,  8vo,  1799.  Lectures  on  the  Evidences 
of  the  Christian  Religion,  izrno,  1809  Lectures  on  Moral  and  Political 
Philosophy,  I2mo,  1812.  A  Comprehensive  View  of  the  Leading  and  Most 
Important  Principles  of  Natural  and  Revealed  Religion,  8vo,  1816.  Ser 
mons,  to  which  is  prefixed  a  Memoir  of  his  Life  and  Writings,  2  vols.  8vo, 
1821.  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  the  death  of  Richard  Stockton,  1781.  A  Ser 
mon  on  Slander,  preached  in  Brattle  Street  Church,  Boston,  1790.  A  Dis 
course  on  the  Nature  and  Danger  of  Small  Faults,  delivered  in  the  Old 
South  Church,  Boston,  1790.  Oratio  Inauguralis,  1794.  A  Discourse  on 
the  Nature  and  Reasonableness  of  Fasting,  and  on  Existing  Causes  that 
call  us  to  that  duty,  1795.  The  Divine  Goodness  to  the  United  States  of 
America ;  a  discourse  delivered  on  a  day  of  general  Thanksgiving  and 
Prayer,  1795.  A  Discourse  delivered  on  the  death  of  Gilbert  Tennent 
Snowden,  1797.  An  Oration  upon  the  death  of  General  George  Washing- 

[  132] 


i769. 

ton,  1800.  A  Discourse  upon  the  Nature,  the  Proper  Subjects,  and  the 
Benefits  of  Baptism,  with  a  brief  Appendix  on  the  Mode  of  Administering 
the  Ordinance,  1808.  The  Resurrection  of  the  Body;  A  Discourse  deliv 
ered  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  1809.  On  the  Love 
of  Praise  ;  A  Sermon  delivered  the  Sunday  preceding  the  Commencement, 
1810. 

Elihu  Thayer  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  After 
leaving  college,  he  engaged  for  some  time  in  teaching. 
Turning  his  .iitention  to  the  ministry  he  was  licensed, 
and  supplied  a  church  in  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
for  some  time.  On  the  i8th  of  December,  1776,  he  was 
ordained  as  pastor  over  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Kingston,  New  Hampshire. 

In  1801,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  New  Hamp 
shire  Missionary  Society.  Mr.  Thayer  suffered  all  his 
life  from  ill-health.  He  was  not  only  an  excellent  schol 
ar  in  college,  but  he  retained  his  relish  for  classical  learn 
ing  to  the  close  of  life.  He  received  the  degree  of  Doc 
tor  of  Divinity  from  Dartmouth  in  1807.  He  died  April 
3,  1812. 

A  volume  of  Dr.  Thayer's  Sermons  was  published  in  1813. 

David  Zubley.  It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Zubley  was 
a  son  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Zubley  who  was  so  conspicuous  in 
Georgia  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  as  I  can  find 
no  traces  of  any  other  family  of  that  name  in  the  Colo 
nies  at  that  period. 

In  1775,  David  Zubley  was  a  lawyer  in  Georgia,  and 
was  a  Representative  in  the  Provincial  Congress  of  that 
State.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  In 
telligence  appointed  by  that  body.  On  the  I4th  of  July, 
1775,  he,  as  one  of  that  Committee,  signed  a  stirring  pe 
tition  to  the  King  in  favour  of  the  rights  of  the  people. 
As  Mr.  Zubley 's  name  does  not  appear  after  1776,  it  is 
probable  that  he  sympathised  with  his  father,  and  gave 
in  his  adherence  to  the  king.  He  probably  left  the 
colonies. 


1770. 

Samuel  Baldwin  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  Af 
ter  graduating  he  emigrated  to  South  Carolina,  and 
opened  a  school  in  Charleston.  But  the  Revolution 
coming  on,  he  took  up  arms  during  the  attack  of  the 
British  upon  that  city.  After  its  capture  he  was  a  pris 
oner  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Refusing  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  he  was  obliged  to  retire  into  the  coun 
try.  After  the  war,  Mr.  Baldwin  returned  to  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  his  native  city,  where  he  died  at  an  ad 
vanced  age  in  1850. 

Fredrick  Freliiiglmysen  was  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
John  F.  Frelinghuysen  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  sent  as 
a  delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress  in  1775,  from  New 
Jersey  when  but  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  resign 
ed  in  1777.  He  was  a  warm  and  active  patriot.  He  en 
tered  the  Revolutionary  army  as  captain  of  a  corps  of 
artillery,  and  was  at  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Mon- 
mouth.  He  was  afterwards  engaged  actively  as  a  colonel 
of  the  militia  of  his  native  state.  He  also  served  in 
the  Western  Expedition  as  Major-General  of  the  New 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  troops.  In  1793  he  was  elected 
to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  continued  in  that 
station  until  domestic  bereavements,  and  the  claims  of 
his  family,  constrained  him  to  resign  in  1796.  General 
Frelinghuysen  stood  also  among  the  first  at  the  Bar  of 
New  Jersey.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Theodore 
Frelinghuysen.  He  died  April  13,  1804,  beloved  and  la 
mented  by  his  country  and  friends,  leaving  for  his  chil 
dren  the  rich  legacy  of  a  life  unsullied  by  a  stain,  and 
that  had  abounded  in  benevolence  and  usefulness.  Gene- 


1770. 

ral  Frelinghuysen  was  a  Trustee  of  the  college  from  1 802 
until  his  death. 

Joshua  Hart  received  ordination  from  the  Presby 
tery  of  Suffolk,  April  2,  1772;  and  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Smithtown,  Long  Island, 
April  13,  1774.  In  the  time  of  the  war,  being  an  ardent 
patriot,  he  suffered  much  from  imprisonment  by  the 
British  in  the  City  of  New  York.  He  was  dismissed 
from  his  charge  September  6,  1787.  Mr.  Hart  was  never 
again  settled,  but  continued  to  labour  as  he  had  oppor 
tunity  until  his  death,  which  occurred  October  3,  1829, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  91. 

Azariali  Horton  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Azariah  Hor- 
ton,  of  South  Hanover  (Madison,)  New  Jersey.  In 
his  will  his  father  gave  to  him  his  "  whole  library  of 
books  and  pamphlets,  except  Flavel's  works,  Henry's  and 
Dickinson's,  and  several  hereinafter  named.  My  two 
walking  canes,  and  a  silver  spoon  marked  I.  T;  M  ;"  "  and 
my  further  wish  is  that  my  negro  wench  Phillis,  and  her 
two  sons  Pompey  and  Pizarro,  be  sold,  the  money  arising 
from  the  sale  to  be  equally  divided  between  my  wife  and 
son  Foster,  and  daughter  Hannah."  Azariah  received 
no  share  of  the  sale  of  the  negroes. 

After  graduating,  Mr.  Horton  entered  the  American 
army,  and  is  said  to  have  been  killed  in  battle. 

Nathaniel  Irwiii  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Penn 
sylvania,  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle 
in  1773,  and  preached  awhile  at  Neshaminy,  Pennsylvania. 
On  November  3,  1774,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
the  pastor.  Here  he  continued  until  his  death.  As  a 
preacher  he  attained  a  high  rank.  He  was  clear,  for 
cible,  fluent,  and  often  deeply  pathetic.  Mr.  Irwin  was 
accustomed  to  ride  to  church  on  his  "  mare  Dobbin,"  and 
was  in  the  habit  of  "  letting  her  have  her  head,"  as  he 
called  it— that  is,  letting  the  rein  lie  loose  upon  her  neck  ; 

[i35] 


1770. 

and  she  went  slowly  along  while  he  prepared  his  sermon. 
Mr.  Irwin  was  probably  the  most  thoroughly  scientific 
man  of  his  day,  in  the  county  in  which  he  lived ;  and  he 
took  pleasure  in  making  his  knowledge  practical  and 
useful.  He  was  the  first  man  who  took  John  Fitch  (of 
steamboat  memory),  by  the  hand,  and  encouraged  him  in 
his  scientific  investigations.  Mr.  Irwin  was  very  tall,  and 
had  a  voice,  the  sound  of  which,  produced  alarm  on  a 
first  hearing.  He  seemed  to  utter  everything  with  the 
greatest  sound  he  could  command.  Mr.  Irwin  left  in  his 
will  one  share  of  the  stock  of  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania, 
to  the  Trustees  of  the  College,  the  interest  to  be  devoted 
to  the  best  orator  belonging  to  the  Whig  Society.  He 
died  March  3,  1812. 

Thomas  McPherrin  received  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  in  1773,  and  was  ordained 
and  settled  as  pastor  of  two  churches  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1775.  He  remained  in  this  charge  until  his  death, 
February  4,  1802. 

John  Cosiiis  Ogdeii.  For  fifteen  years  after  his 
graduation  Mr.  Ogden  resided  in  New  Haven.  Having 
been  ordained  by  Bishop  Seabury,  in  1786,  he  became 
Rector  of  an  Episcopal  Church  in  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  where  he  remained  until  1793,  when  his 
mind  becoming  deranged  he  gave  up  his  charge.  He 
died  in  Chestertown,  Maryland,  in  1800.  Mr.  Ogden  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Ogden  published  an  Election  Sermon,  1790.  A  Masonic  Sermon. 
Letters.  An  Address.  An  Excursion  into  Bethlehem  and  Nazareth,  Penn 
sylvania,  in  the  year  1799,  witn  a  succinct  History  of  the  Society  of  United 
Brethren,  commonly  called  Moravians,  Philadelphia,  1800. 

Nathan  Perkins  was  born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  London  Association, 
Connecticut.  After  preaching  in  various  places,  he  was 
installed  as  pastor  at  West  Hartford,  October  14,  1772. 


1770. 

Here  he  laboured  with  great  diligence  and  fidelity  for 
sixty-six  years.  During  his  ministry  he  preached  ten 
thousand  sermons,  and  assisted  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  students  in  their  preparation  for  college.  He 
had  under  his  care,  at  different  times,  more  than  thirty 
theological  students.  In  1801  Princeton  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

Dr.  Perkins  was  a  man  of  highly  respectable  talents, 
good  common  sense,  and  uncommon  prudence.  He  was 
kind,  affectionate,  and  cheerful  in  his  social  and  domestic 
relations,  and  a  solemn,  persuasive  and  affectionate 
preacher.  He  died  January  18,  1838. 

In  1795,  he  published  Twenty-four  Discourses  on  some  of  the  important 
and  interesting  truths,  duties,  and  institutions  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  general 
excellency  of  the  Christian  Religion  ;  calculated  for  the  people  of  God  of 
every  communion,  particularly  for  the  benefit  of  pious  families,  and  the  in 
struction  of  all  in  the  things  which  concern  their  salvation,  i  vol.,  8vo. 
Three  Sermons  in  the  American  Preacher,  vol.  iii.,  iv.,  1793,  1794.  Four 
Letters,  showing  the  History  and  Origin  of  the  Anabaptists,  1793.  A  Dis 
course  at  the  ordination  of  Calvin  Chapin,  1794.  Two  Discourses  on  the 
Grounds  of  the  Christian  Hope,  1800.  A  Sermon  at  the  ordination  of 
Elihu  Mason,  1810.  A  Sermon  at  the  interment  of  Rev.  Timothy  Pitkin, 
1812.  A  Sermon  on  the  State  Fast,  1812.  A  Sermon  at  the  interment  of 
the  Rev.  Nathan  Strong,  D.D.,  1816.  A  Half  Century  Sermon,  1822. 

Caleb  Russell  after  graduating  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
Jersey,  at  the  September  Term,  1784.  He  died  in  1805. 

Isaac  Smith  studied  theology,  and  settled  as  pastor 
of  a  Congregational  Church  at  Gilmantown,  New  Hamp 
shire,  November  30,  1774.  He  died  in  1817. 

John  Smith  was  a  native  of  Plainfield,  Connecticut. 
He  became  a  Congregational  minister,  and  on  the  22d  of 
April,  1772,  was  settled  at  Dighton,  Massachusetts.  In 
1802,  he  became  a  Missionary  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Canandaigua,  New  York.  He  gave  a  deed  of  six  thous 
and  acres  of  land  to  form  a  seminary  of  learning  in  Can 
andaigua.  Afterwards,  Mr.  Smith  removed  to  Lycoming 

['37] 


1770. 

County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  till  1812,  when 
he  removed  to  Nelson  County,  Kentucky,  acting  as  a  Mis 
sionary  in  both  places.  He  died  in  Kentucky  in  1820.  Mr. 
Smith  was  the  grandfather  of  Professor  Henry  B.  Smith 
of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York. 

Stephen  Tracy  was  a  native  of  Norwich,  Connecti 
cut.  He  was  ordained  in  April,  1773,  and  settled  as  pas 
tor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Peru,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  remained  until  October  8,  1815,  when  he  was 
released  from  his  charge.  Mr.  Tracy  died  May  14,  1825. 

Caleb  Wallace  on  leaving  college  studied  theology, 
and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
April  3,  1774,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Hanover,  and  installed  pastor  of  Cub  Creek  and  Falling 
River  Churches,  Virginia.  In  1779,  ne  resigned  his 
charge,  and  in  1783  emigrated  to  Kentucky. 

Abandoning  the  ministry,  he  entered  the  profession  of 
the  law,  in  which  he  was  successful,  and  became  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a 
native  of  Virginia. 

Mathias  Williamson  was  a  native  of  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey.  After  graduating,  he  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  November,  1774;  but  the  war 
commencing,  he  became  an  officer  in  the  Commissary 
department.  He  died  in  Elizabethtown  in  1836,  aged  84. 

James  Wilson  received  his  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  in  1771,  and  was  ordained 
in  1773.  Mr.  Wilson  probably  died  soon  after,  as  his 
name  disappears  from  the  roll  of  Synod. 

James  Witherspoon,  a  son  of  President  Wither- 
spoon,  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise.  He  joined 
the  American  army  as  aid  to  General  Nash,  and  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Germantown,  October  4,  1777. 

[»J8] 


Gunning  Bedford  became  a  lawyer,  and  soon  rose 
to  eminence  in  Delaware,  his  native  State.  In  1785  and 
1786  he  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  ;  and 
in  1787  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  which  formed 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

While  a  student  in  college,  Mr.  Bedford  married  Miss 
Jane  B.  Parker,  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  accomplished 
women  of  her  times,  who  brought  her  first-born  child  to 
Princeton,  leaving  it  in  the  care  of  Mrs.  President  With- 
erspoon,  while  she  went  to  the  church  to  hear  her  young 
husband's  valedictory  address  at  Commencement.  Mr. 
Bedford  was  a  personal  friend  of  Washington,  Franklin 
and  other  master  spirits  of  the  Revolution.  In  1796,  he 
was  elected  Governor  of  Delaware,  and  soon  after  was 
the  first  appointee  of  Washington  to  the  United  States 
District  Court  of  Delaware,  which  position  he  held  with 
distinguished  honour  until  his  death  in  March,  1812. 

The  house  of  Mr.  Bedford  was  the  resort  of  the  wit, 
fashion  and  talent  of  the  state  and  country.  Distin 
guished  jurists,  statesmen,  clergymen  and  civilians  were 
guests  at  his  fireside.  Mr.  Bedford  was  a  consistent 
Christian,  and  for  many  years  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyte 
rian  Church. 

John  Black,  a  South  Carolinian  by  birth,  was  li 
censed  by  Donegal  Presbytery,  October  14,  1773,  and 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Upper  Marsh  Creek,  York  County,  Pennsyl 
vania,  August  15,  1775.  On  the  loth  of  April,  1794,  he 
was  released  from  his  charge,  but  continued  to  preach  in 
various  places  without  any  regular  settlement.  Mr. 


1771. 

Black  possessed  a  high  order  of  talent,  and  was  especial 
ly  fond  of  philosophical  disquisitions.  He  died  August 
6,  1802,  in  the  exercise  of  a  triumphant  faith. 

He  published,  A  Discourse  on  Psalmody,  in  reply  to  Rev.  Dr.  John  An 
derson  of  the  Associate  Church. 

Hugh  Henry  Brackenridge  came  to  this  country 
from  Scotland  when  quite  young.  He  supported  him 
self  while  in  the  higher  classes  in  college,  by  teaching  the 
lower  classes.  In  conjunction  with  his  class-mate  Philip 
Freneau,  he  wrote  a  poem  in  dialogue,  between  Acasto 
and  Eugenio,  on  the  Rising  Glory  of  America,  which  he 
delivered  at  Commencement,  and  which  was  published 
the  next  year  in  Philadelphia.  After  graduation,  he  re 
mained  two  years  as  a  tutor,  pursuing  at  the  same  time 
the  study  of  theology.  Mr.  Brackenridge  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1777,  but 
resigned  his  license  a  few  months  afterwards.  For  seve 
ral  years  after  leaving  the  college,  he  taught  school  in 
Maryland,  but  in  1776  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  sup 
ported  himself  by  editing  the  United  States  Magazine. 
An  anecdote  of  this  time  is  related  by  his  son.  On  seve 
ral  occasions  the  Magazine  contained  strictures  on  the 
celebrated  General  Lee,  in  regard  to  his  conduct  to 
Washington.  On  a  certain  day,  Lee  called  at  the  office 
of  Mr.  Brackenridge  with  two  of  his  aids,  with  the  in 
tention  of  assaulting  the  editor.  Knocking  at  the  door, 
Mr.  Brackenridge  from  an  upper  window  inquired  what 
was  wanting.  "  Come  down,"  said  Lee,  "  and  I  will  give 
you  as  good  a  horse-whipping  as  any  rascal  ever  receiv 
ed."  "  Excuse  me,  General,"  said  the  other,  "  I  would 
not  go  down  for  two  such  favours." 

Mr.  Brackenridge  was  in  the  habit  of  making  political 
harangues  to  the  army,  six  of  which  were  published  at 
the  time  in  a  pamphlet,  which  had  a  large  circulation. 

In  1781,  Mr.  Brackenridge  established  himself  at  Pitts- 
burg,  from  which  city  he  was  sent  to  the  Legislature. 
He  was  closely  associated  with  Albert  Gallatin  during 


1771. 

the  Whisky  Insurrection,  and  when  that  affair  was  over, 
he  published,  "  Incidents  of  the  Insurrection  in  the  West 
ern  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  1794." 

In  1786,  Mr.  Brackenridge  published  "Modern  Chiv 
alry  ;  or,  The  Adventures  of  Captain  Farrago  and  Tea- 
gue  O'Reagan,  his  servant."  After  an  interval  of  ten 
years  he  published  the  second  part.  The  whole,  with 
his  last  corrections,  was  published  in  Pittsburg  in  1819. 
This  political  satire  gave  him  great  renown  among  the 
frontier  men. 

In  1789,  Mr.  Brackenridge  was  appointed  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania.  A  few  years  before  his 
death,  he  removed  to  Carlisle,  where  he  died  June  25, 
1816. 

Few  men  have  combined  a  greater  variety  of  brilliant 
qualities.  He  was  a  man  of  decided  talents,  with  a  com 
manding  person,  an  eagle  eye,  highly  popular  manners, 
and  a  mind  richly  stored  with  various  learning.  He  had 
a  profound  knowledge  of  men,  possessed  great  address, 
could  reason  clearly,  and  make  the  blood  run  cold  by 
touches  of  genuine  eloquence.  His  wit  was  rather  deli 
cate  irony  than  broad  humour,  and  always  employed  as 
the  means  of  conveying  some  important  truth,  or  correct 
ing  something  wrong. 

Besides  the  publications  already  noted,  Judge  Brackenridge  wrote  "A 
Eulogium  on  the  Brave  Men  who  fell  in  the  Contest  with  Great  Britain, 
1779."  "Gazette  Publications  Collected,  1806."  "Laws  of  Miscellanies, 
containing  instructions  for  the  study  of  the  law,  1814." 

Donald  Campbell  joined  the  American  army  from 
New  York,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  regular 
Continental  line.  He  served  during  the  whole  war. 

Philip  Freneau  was  born  in  the  City  of  New  York, 
on  the  second  of  January,  1752,  being  descended  from  a 
French  Protestant  family.  He  began  to  write  verses 
very  early,  but  it  was  while  residing  in  New  York  in 
1774  and  1775,  that  he  published  those  poetical  satires  on 

[14'] 


the  royalists  and  their  cause,  which  have  transmitted  his 
name  to  posterity. 

In  1776,  he  visited  the  Danish  West  Indies,  where  he 
wrote  several  of  his  best  poems.  Two  years  later  he  was 
at  Bermuda;  and  in  1779  was  in  Philadelphia,  superin 
tending  the  publication  of  the  United  States  Magazine, 
In  1780,  he  sailed  in  the  "Aurora"  for  St.  Eustatia,  but 
was  captured  in  sight  of  Cape  Henlopen  by  the  British 
frigate  Iris,  and  carried  to  New  York  and  confined  in  a 
prison-ship,  from  which  he  eventually  escaped.  He  sub 
sequently  became  a  sea  captain,  and  made  many  voyages 
between  1784  and  1789,  and  1798  and  1809.  In  1790,  he 
was  editor  of  the  Daily  Advertiser  in  New  York  ;  and  in 
1791  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Jefferson  "  interpreter  of  the 
French  Language  for  the  Department  of  State." 

In  1795,  he  set  up  his  own  press  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey,  and  commenced  the 
publication  of  his  "  New  Jersey  Chronicle,"  which  he 
continued  about  a  year.  In  1797,  he  started  in  New 
York  "  The  Time-Piece  and  Literary  Companion."  It 
was  published  three  times  a  week,  in  a  neat  folio  form. 
In  1798,  Freneau's  name  disappears  from  the  paper. 

Mr.  Freneau's  end  was  sad ;  he  was  found  dead  about 
two  miles  from  his  house  in  New  Jersey,  having  perished 
in  a  snow-storm.  His  death  occurred  December  18, 
1832,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 

The  first  collection  of  Mr.  Freneau's  Poems  was  published  in  Philadel 
phia,  in  1786.  In  1795,  a  second  edition  appeared,  and  a  third  in  1809.  A 
collection  of  poems  connected  with  the  war  of  1812  and  other  subjects,  in 
a  vols.,  was  published  in  New  York. 

Dr.  Francis,  of  New  York,  in  relating  his  reminiscences  of  Freneau,  re 
marks,  "  His  story  of  many  of  his  occasional  poems  was  quite  romantic.  I 
told  him  what  I  heard  Jeffrey,  the  Scotch  Reviewer,  say  of  his  writings — 
that  the  time  would  arrive  when  his  poetry,  like  that  of  Hudibras,  would 
command  a  commentator  like  Grey." 

Charles  McKnight,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
McKnight,  was  born  in  Cranberry,  New  Jersey,  October 
10,  1750.  After  graduating,  he  studied  medicine  with 


Dr.  William  Shippen,  of  Philadelphia,  of  the  class  of  1754, 
and  entered  the  army  as  a  surgeon,  where  his  abilities 
soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
and  procured  his  appointment  to  the  office  of  Senior  Sur 
geon  of  the  Flying  Hospital  of  the  Middle  Department, 
in  April,  1777.  He  was  with  the  main  army  in  all  its 
movements,  and  the  duties  of  his  office  he  performed  with 
signal  ability.  For  some  months  in  1780  he  acted  as  Sur 
geon-General ;  and  from  October  i,  1780  to  January  i, 
1782,  as  Surgeon-General  of  the  Middle  Department. 
His  talent,  his  zeal,  his  devotion  to  duty  and  his  ardent 
patriotism  rendered  him  conspicuous  among  the  heroes 
of  the  Revolution.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  in 
New  York  city,  and  became  Professor  of  Anatomy  and 
Surgery  in  Columbia  College,  where  he  delivered  lec 
tures  on  these  two  branches  of  medical  science,  and 
where  he  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  the  most  emi 
nent  surgeon  of  his  day.  Dr.  McKnight  died  November 
16,  1791. 

James  Madison,  the  son  of  James  Madison,  of  Or 
ange  County,  Virginia,  was  born  March  5,  1751.  Dr. 
Witherspoon  remarked  to  Jefferson,  in  reference  to  Mad 
ison,  that  in  his  whole  course  in  college,  he  had  never 
known  him  do  or  say  an  indiscreet  thing.  While  in  col 
lege  he  was  a  laborious  student,  during  a  part  of  the 
course  allowing  himself  but  three  hours  out  of  the  twenty- 
four  for  sleep.  The  state  of  opinion  in  the  college  in  re 
gard  to  the  oppression  of  the  colonies  by  Great  Britain, 
may  be  learned  from  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Madison 
to  Thomas  Martin,  his  former  tutor,  and  himself  a  grad 
uate  of  the  class  of  1762:  "  We  have  no  public  news 
but  the  base  conduct  of  the  merchants  of  New  York 
in  breaking  through  their  spirited  resolution  not  to  im 
port.  Their  letter  to  the  merchants  in  Philadelphia,  re 
questing  their  concurrence,  was  lately  burned  by  the  stu 
dents  of  this  place  in  the  college  yard,  all  of  them  appear 
ing  in  their  black  gowns,  and  the  bell  tolling There 

['43] 


1771. 

are  about  an  hundred  and  fifteen  in  the  college  and  in 
the  grammar  school,  all  of  them  in  American  cloth." 

After  graduating,  Mr.  Madison  spent  about  a  year  at 
Princeton,  studying  Hebrew  with  Dr.  Witherspoon.  On 
his  return  to  his  home,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study 
of  theology  and  kindred  sciences,  and  few  have  gone 
through  more  laborious  and  extensive  inquiries  to  arrive 
at  the  truth. 

Mr.  Madison  entered  upon  public  life  in  May,  1776,  as 
a  member  of  the  Convention  of  Virginia  which  formed 
the  first  Constitution,  and  which  instructed  its  delegates 
in  Congress  to  prepare  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
In  October,  1776,  he  was  elected  to  the  Virginia  House 
of  Delegates.  On  December  14,  1779  he  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  in  which,  al 
though  the  youngest  member,  he  immediately  took  a 
prominent  position.  In  1784  he  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Delegates  of  Virginia,  and  stood  the  peer  of 
such  men  as  Patrick  Henry  and  Henry  Lee,  and  was  the 
author  of  the  resolutions  inviting  the  other  States  to  meet 
in  Convention  to  form  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Madison  took  a  conspicuous  and  distin 
guished  part  in  the  deliberations  of  that  body,  and  was 
the  chief  framer  of  what  was  called  the  Virginia  Plan, 
which  in  its  substantial  features  forms  our  present  Con 
stitution.  After  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  he 
contributed  by  his  pen  to  the  adoption  of  the  Constitu 
tion,  and  his  articles  in  the  Federalist  place  him  among 
the  foremost  statesmen  of  the  world.  Mr.  Madison  was 
a  member  of  the  Federal  Congress  through  the  whole  of 
Washington's  administration.  In  1799  ne  was  again  a 
member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Delegates  ;  and  in  1801 
was  appointed  by  Mr.  Jefferson  Secretary  of  State,  which 
position  he  held  until  1809. 

So  successful  had  Mr.  Madison  been  in  the  conduct  of 
foreign  affairs,  that  the  eyes  of  the  nation  were  turned  to 
him  as  the  next  President,  to  which  elevated  position  he 
was  elected  by  an  overwhelming  vote.  In  1817,  having 

[H4] 


served  two  terms  as  President,  he  retired  into  private 
life.  In  1826  he  succeeded  Mr.  Jefferson  as  Rector  of 
the  University  of  Virginia,  and  in  1829  became  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Virginia,  his  last  pub 
lic  appearance. 

Mr.  Madison  held  a  high  and  honourable  and  unstained 
character,  and  his  memory  is  venerated.  Shortly  before 
his  death  he  penned  these  sentences  of  advice  to  his 
countrymen  :  "  The  advice  nearest  to  my  heart  and  dear 
est  to  my  convictions  is,  that  the  Union  of  the  States  be 
cherished  and  perpetuated.  Let  the  avowed  enemy  to  it 
be  regarded  as  a  Pandora  with  her  box  opened,  and  the 
disguised  one  as  a  serpent,  creeping  with  deadly  wiles 
into  Paradise!" 

Mr.  Madison  died  June  28,  1836,  aged  85. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Madison  consist  of  twenty-nine  numbers  of  the 
Federalist,  and  other  political  papers.  Notes  on  the  Debates  in  the  Con 
vention  to  frame  the  Federal  Constitution,  published  in  1840.  A  quarto 
volume  of  Correspondence,  printed  for  private  circulation. 

There  are  enough  of  his  unpublished  manuscripts  extant  to  fill  twelve 
octavo  volumes. 

Samuel  Spring  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  One 
interesting  fact  is  related  of  him  while  in  college.  He 
was  called  upon  on  a  certain  occasion  to  explain  and  de 
fend  the  Copernican  System  in  the  presence  of  the  class ; 
when  after  proceeding  awhile,  he  became  overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  and  burst  into  tears ; 
he  was  unable  to  proceed.  In  1774  Mr.  Spring  was  li 
censed  to  preach,  and  immediately  joined  the  Continen 
tal  army  as  a  chaplain,  and  was  in  the  severe  campaign 
to  Canada  under  Arnold.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1776, 
he  left  the  army  and  began  preaching  at  Newburyport, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  was  ordained  and  installed  Au 
gust  6,  1777.  He  remained  at  Newburyport  until  his 
death,  March  4,  1819.  The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  in  1806  by  Prince 
ton. 

Dr.  Spring  was  powerful  in  the  pulpit,  and  in  the  fer- 
10  .[HSl 


1 771. 

vency  and  simplicity  of  his  prayers  excelled  most  minis 
ters.  As  a  preacher  he  was  remarkable  for  a  clear  and 
forcible  illustration  of  divine  truth.  His  written  sermons 
were  prepared  with  care  and  labour,  and  were  always 
weighty  and  instructive.  But  his  extemporaneous  preach 
ing  was  far  more  striking  and  powerful.  It  was  here 
that  he  showed  his  superior  strength  to  the  best  advan 
tage.  Few  ministers  enjoy  as  fully  as  he  did  the  confi 
dence,  the  attachment,  and  the  veneration  of  his  people ; 
and  few  exert  so  salutary  and  lasting  an  influence.  Dr. 
Spring  was  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Gardiner  Spring,  D.D., 
of  New  York. 

The  publications  of  Dr.  Spring  are,  A  Thanksgiving  Sermon.  1777.  A 
Sermon  on  the  Importance  of  Sinners  coming  immediately  to  Christ.  1780. 
A  Sermon  on  the  Ordination  of  Benjamin  Bell.  1784.  A  Thanksgiving 
Discourse.  1798.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Washington.  1799.  A  Ser 
mon  before  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society.  1802.  A  Discourse  in 
consequence  of  the  late  Duel.  1804.  A  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Charles 
Coifin.Jr.  1804.  Two  Discourses  on  Christ's  Self-existence.  1805.  A  Ser 
mon  at  the  Ordination  of  Samuel  Walker.  1805.  An  Address  before  the 
Merrimac  Humane  Society.  1807.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Deacon 
Thomas  Thompson.  1808.  Two  Sermons  delivered  on  Fast  Day.  1809.  A 
Letter  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Solomon  Aikin,  on  the  Subject  of  the  Preced 
ing  Sermons.  1809.  A  Sermon  at  the  Inauguration  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Grffin, 
as -Professor  at  the  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  1809.  A  Sermon  at 
the  Interment  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Noyes.  1810.  A  Sermon  on  the  United 
Agency  of  God  and  Man  in  Salvation.  1817.  A  Sermon  before  the  Ameri 
can  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.  1818.  A  Sermon  be 
fore  the  Howard  Benevolent  Society.  1818. 


1772. 

Isaac  Alexander,  one  of  the  Mechlenburg  family 
of  Alexanders,  after  graduating,  returned  to  North  Car 
olina  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine.  In  1777 
an  Isaac  Alexander  was  the  President  of  Liberty  Hall 
Academy  in  North  Carolina.  I  am  not  certain  that  this 
is  our  graduate,  although  it  is  likely  from  the  fact,  that 
twelve  out  of  the  sixteen  Trustees,  were  graduates  of 
Princeton. 

For  many  years  he  was  an  Elder  in  the  Sugar  Creek 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Moses  Allen  was  born  in  Northampton,  Massachu 
setts.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  February  i,  1774.  On  March  10,  1775,  he 
was  ordained  near  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  in 
stalled  as  pastor  of  an  Independent  Church  at  Wappe- 
taw.  In  1777  he  resigned  his  charge  and  removed  to 
Liberty  County,  Georgia,  where  he  took  charge  of  the 
Midway  Presbyterian  Church ;  but  the  next  year  his 
congregation  was  dispersed  and  his  church  burned.  He 
therefore  entered  the  army  as  chaplain,  and  at  the  cap 
ture  of  Savannah  was  taken  prisoner,  and  being  obnox 
ious  to  the  enemy,  on  account  of  his  patriotic  exhorta 
tions  from  the  pulpit  and  his  animated  exertions  in  the 
field,  he  was  confined  closely  in  a  prison-ship.  Wearied 
with  his  confinement  for  weeks  in  that  loathsome  place, 
he  determined  to  escape  by  swimming,  but  was  drowned 
in  the  attempt  on  the  night  of  February  8,  1779.  Mr. 
Allen,  notwithstanding  his  clerical  function,  appeared 
among  the  foremost  in  the  day  of  battle,  and  on  all  occa 
sions  sought  the  post  of  danger  as  the  post  of  honour. 

[  H7] 


1772. 

The  friends  of  independence  admired  him  for  his  popular 
talents,  his  courage  and  his  many  virtues.  He  was  an 
eminently  pious  man. 

Robert  Archibald.  Of  the  early  life  of  Mr.  Archi 
bald,  little  is  known.  After  leaving  Princeton,  he  studied 
medicine  and  afterwards  theology,  and  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Orange  in  the  autumn  of  1775.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  Rocky  River  Pres 
byterian  Church,  North  Carolina,  October  7,  1778,  and 
continued  to  hold  this  office  till  he  was  brought  into 
difficulties  for  preaching  erroneous  doctrines,  about  the 
year  1792,  for  which,  in  1794,  he  was  suspended  from  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and,  in  1797,  was  solemnly  de 
posed. 

Mr.  Archibald  was  a  man  of  talent,  of  an  amiable  dis 
position,  and  considered  a  good  classical  scholar ;  but 
was  careless  in  his  manners  and  extremely  negligent  in 
his  dress  and  general  appearance.  Some  domestic  afflic 
tions,  fancied  or  real,  preyed  upon  his  spirits,  and  were 
the  occasion  of  indulgence,  to  an  unwarrantable  degree, 
in  intoxicating  drinks. 

Mr.  Archibald  never  returned  to  the  communion  of 
his  church,  nor  retracted  the  errors  for  which  he  was  de 
posed. 

William  Bradford,  a  grandson  of  William  Brad 
ford,  the  celebrated  printer  of  Philadelphia,  and  son  of 
Colonel  William  Bradford  of  the  Revolutionary  Army, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  14,  1755.  He  re 
mained  a  year  in  Princeton  after  graduating,  studying 
theology  with  Dr.  Witherspoon.  On  returning  to  his 
home,  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Edward  Shippen ;  but 
the  Revolution  commencing,  he  joined  the  army,  and 
rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  but  declining  health  induced 
him  to  resign  his  commission  in  April,  1779. 

Returning  to  the  study  of  the  law,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  the  same  year,  and  settled  in  Yorktown,  Penn- 

[  148] 


1772. 

sylvania.  His  marked  ability  soon  attracted  attention, 
and  in  1780,  when  but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
appointed  Attorney-General  of  the  State.  He  held  this 
position  for  eleven  years,  and  on  the  22d  of  August,  1791, 
was  elevated  to  the  Supreme  Bench  of  Pennsylvania. 
This  office  he  held  until  1794,  when  he  was  appointed  by 
Washington  Attorney  -  General  of  the  United  States,  in 
which  office  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  23,  1795,  at  Rose  Hill,  near  Philadelphia.  Judge 
Bradford  married  a  daughter  of  Elias  Boudinot  in  1782. 
His  death  was  occasioned  by  a  bilious  fever  contracted 
by  exposure  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

He  advanced  with  a  rapid  progress  to  an  eminence  of 
reputation  which  never  was  defaced  by  petty  artifices  of 
practice  or  ignoble  associations  of  thought.  His  course 
was  lofty,  as  his  mind  was  pure ;  his  eloquence  was  of 
the  best  kind ;  his  language  was  uniformly  classical. 
His  style  was  modelled  upon  that  of  the  best  English 
writers.  His  splendid  abilities,  his  great  integrity,  his 
clear  judgment,  his  persuasive  eloquence,  his  ardent 
patriotism,  were  crowned  with  the  graces  of  the  Chris 
tian  character. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Bradford  are ;  An  Enquiry  how  far  the  Punish 
ment  of  Death  is  necessary  in  Pennsylvania,  with  an  Account  of  the  Peni 
tentiary  House  of  Philadelphia,  1795.  In  the  earlier  periods  of  his  life  he 
was  not  unacquainted  with  the  walks  of  poetry,  and  some  of  his  poetical 
productions,  in  imitation  of  Shenstone,  were  published  in  the  Philadelphia 
magazines. 

Aaron  Burr  was  the  son  of  President  Burr,  and  the 
grandson  of  President  Edwards.  In  1775  he  joined  the 
army  at  Cambridge,  and  accompanied  Arnold  in  his  ex 
pedition  against  Quebec.  In  1779,  with  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant -Colonel,  he  retired  from  military  life.  In 
1782  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Albany,  but 
soon  removed  to  New  York  City.  From  1791  to  1797 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 
He  and  Jefferson  had  each  seventy-three  votes  for  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States  in  1800.  On  the  thirty-sixth 

[H9] 


1772. 

ballot  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  Jefferson  was 
elected,  and  Burr  became  Vice-President.  On  the  I2th 
of  July,  1804,  he  mortally  wounded  Alexander  Hamilton 
in  a  duel.  In  1807  Mr.  Burr  was  arrested  for  High 
Treason,  and  was  tried  in  Richmond  and  acquitted. 
Luther  Martin,  of  the  class  of  1766,  a  personal  friend, 
was  one  of  his  counsel. 

The  remainder  of  Mr.  Burr's  life  was  passed  in  New 
York  in  obscurity  and  neglect.  He  died  September  14, 
1836,  and  was  buried  at  Princeton,  near  the  grave  of  his 
father. 

John  Debow  received  his  license  from  the  Presby 
tery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1773,  and  soon  after  removed 
to  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hawfields  in  1/76. 
Here  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Sep 
tember  17,  1782.  Mr.  Debow  was  successful  in  his  min 
istry,  and  a  goodly  number  were  added  to  the  church. 

Joseph  Eckley  was  born  in  the  city  of  London. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  May  7, 
1776.  In  1779  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
Church,  Boston,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  in 
April,  1811.  His  Alma  Mater  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  about  1787.  Dr.  Eckley 
had  a  high  standing  in  the  cofnmunity  as  a  preacher,  al 
though  he  was  inclined  to  abstraction.  In  person,  he 
was  about  the  medium  stature  and  size.  His  countenance 
was  a  pleasing  one,  though  his  features  were  not  remark 
ably  delicate.  His  hair  was  turned  back  on  his  fore 
head,  over  the  head  to  the  neck,  and  arranged  in  "  can 
non  curls"  (the  hair  twisted  around  wire),  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  day. 

Dr.  Eckley  published,  Divine  Glory  brought  to  View  in  the  Condemna 
tion  of  the  Ungodly;  by  a  friend  of  the  truth,  1782.  A  Sermon  at  the  in 
stallation  of  the  Rev.  Israel  Evans,  at  Concord,  1789.  Artillery  Election 
Sermon,  1792.  A  Discourse  on  the  Annual  Thanksgiving,  1798.  A  Ser- 


1772. 

mon  before  the  Boston  Female  Asylum,  1802.  A  Discourse  before  the  So 
ciety  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  1805.  Dudleian  Lecture  at  Harvard 
University,  1806.  A  Sermon  at  the  installation  of  Rev.  Horace  Holley, 
Boston,  1809. 

Israel  Evans.  The  father  and  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Evans  were  settled  ministers  in  this  country,  and  his 
great-grandfather  was  a  minister  in  Wales.  Mr.  Evans 
was  ordained  by  the  First  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in 
1776,  and  immediately  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Chap 
lain  in  the  American  Army.  From  1777  till  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  was  Chaplain  to  the  New  Hampshire  Bri 
gade,  and  by  means  of  this  connection,  he  was  introduced 
to  the  Church  in  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  of  which  he 
became  pastor  July  i,  1789,  his  classmate,  Joseph  Eckley, 
preaching  his  installation  sermon.  He  resigned  this 
charge  in  July,  1797,  but  continued  to  reside  in  Concord, 
where  he  died  March  9,  1807. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Evans  are  :  Oration  delivered  at  Hackensack, 
New  Jersey,  at  the  interment  of  Brigadier-General  Enoc  Poor,  1780.  A 
Sermon  delivered  near  York,  Virginia,  on  the  memorable  occasion  of  the 
Surrender  of  the  British  Army,  etc.,  1781.  A  Sermon  delivered  in  New 
York  on  the  day  set  apart  by  Congress  as  a  day  of  Public  Thanksgiving 
for  the  blessings  of  Independence,  Liberty  and  Peace,  1783.  A  Sermon  to 
the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Western  Army  after  their  return  from  an 
expedition  against  the  Five  Nations.  New  Hampshire  Election  Sermon, 
1791. 

Ebenezer  Fiiiley,  the  eldest  son  of  President  Finley, 
studied  medicine,  and  became  a  highly  respectable  physi 
cian  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  was  distinguished 
for  his  piety  and  moral  worth. 

Philip  Vicars  Fithiaii  was  born  in  Cumberland 
County,  New  Jersey.  In  connection  with  his  classmate, 
Andrew  Hunter,  and  about  forty  other  young  patriots, 
he  assisted  in  the  destruction  of  a  cargo  of  tea  at  Green 
wich,  New  Jersey.  This  cargo  had  been  brought*  over 
by  the  ship  Grey  Hound,  which  sailed  up  Cohausey 
Creek  and  deposited  the  tea  in  the  cellar  of  a  store- 


1772. 

house  which  is  still  standing.  In  imitation  of  the  pro 
ceedings  of  the  Whigs  of  Boston  in  1773,  and  animated 
by  the  same  patriotic  spirit,  this  company  of  young  men, 
disguised  as  Indians,  assembled  on  the  evening  of  Nov 
ember  22,  1774,  removed  the  chests  of  tea  from  the  store 
house,  conveyed  them  to  an  adjoining  field  and  then 
burned  them.  Mr.  Fithian  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1775.  For  some  time 
he  laboured  as  a  missionary  under  direction  of  the  Pres 
bytery,  and  then  entered  the  army  as  a  chaplain.  At  the 
Battle  of  White  Plains  he  fought  in  the  ranks.  He  died 
in  1776  from  disease  contracted  in  camp.  Mr.  Fithian 
was  never  ordained. 

James  Grier,  a  native  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsyl 
vania,  graduated  with  the  highest  honours  of  his  class, 
and  acted  as  tutor  for  about  one  year.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  First  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1775,  and  or 
dained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Deep  Run  Presbyterian 
Church,  Pennsylvania,  in  1776,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death,  November  19,  1791. 

Mr.  Grier  was  amiable  and  conciliatory  in  his  disposi 
tion  and  manners.  Ordinarily  using  but  little  gesture, 
and  that  of  the  mildest  kind,  his  manner  was  always  ear 
nest,  and  at  times  it  became  deeply  impassioned.  He 
had  power  over  an  audience  to  which  few  attain.  To 
illustrate  this — On  a  Communion  Sabbath,  he  followed 
up  the  Sacramental  Service  with  a  sermon  on  the  text, 
"And  the  door  was  shut."  After  reading  the  passage,  he 
closed  the  Bible  with  an  action  somewhat  energetic,  and 
lifting  up  his  hands,  apparently  in  the  deepest  agony, 
exclaimed,  "  My  God,  and  is  the  door  shut."  The  im 
pression  on  the  whole  congregation  was  perfectly  over 
whelming. 

Andrew  Hodge  was  the  son  of  Andrew  Hodge,  a 
wealthy  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  After  graduating, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Governor 


1772. 

Reed.  He  was  thus  engaged  at  the  opening  of  the  Rev 
olution,  when  his  patriotism  led  him  to  join  the  First 
City  Troop  of  Philadelphia,  which  was  Washington's 
Body  Guard,  and  was  a  participator  in  the  battle  of 
Trenton.  Shortly  before  the  close  of  the  war  he  en 
gaged  in  commercial  business  with  his  younger  brother 
Hugh  until  1783,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved.  He  con 
tinued  in  business  until  about  1806,  when  the  embargo  and 
his  impaired  health  caused  him  to  retire  from  active  life. 
He  resided  partly  in  Philadelphia  and  partly  in  Susque- 
hanna  County,  Pennsylvania,  until  his  death,  which  oc 
curred  in  May,  1835. 

Andrew  Hunter,  the  son  of  a  British  officer,  was 
born  in  Virginia.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
First  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  about  1773,  immediately 
after  which  he  made  a  missionary  tour  through  Pennsyl 
vania  and  Virginia.  In  1778  he  was  ordained,  and  was 
appointed  a  Brigade  Chaplain  in  the  American  Army.  In 
1794  he  was  teaching  a  school  at  Woodbury,  New  Jersey, 
and  in  1803,  on  account  of  ill  health,  was  cultivating  a 
farm  on  the  Delaware  River  near  Trenton.  In  1788  he 
was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
which  position  he  held  until  1804,  when  he  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy.  In  1808  he 
resigned  his  professorship,  and  took  charge  of  an  aca 
demy  at  Bordentown,  New  Jersey,  but  was  soon  after 
appointed  a  Chaplain  in  the  Navy,  and  was  stationed 
at  the  Navy  Yard  at  Washington  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  February 
24,  1823. 

Mr.  Hunter's  second  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Richard 
Stockton,  of  the  class  of  1748. 

Robert  Keith,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  studied 
theology  after  his  graduation,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
First  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  about  1775,  and  for 
some  time  acted  as  a  missionary  in  Pennsylvania  and 


1772. 

Virginia.  In  1779  he  was  ordained,  and  received  the  ap 
pointment  of  Chaplain  in  the  Army,  serving  during  the 
whole  war.  Mr.  Keith  was  never  permanently  settled 
over  a  congregation.  He  died  in  1784. 

William  Linn  was  born  in  Shippensburg,  Pennsyl 
vania,  in  1752.  Soon  after  being  licensed,  he  entered  the 
American  army  as  a  chaplain.  In  1784,  he  was  Rector 
of  an  academy  in  Somerset  County,  Maryland,  where  he 
acquired  a  high  reputation  as  a  teacher  and  scholar.  In 
1786,  he  removed  to  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  and  be 
came  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  place. 
He  remained  here  but  a  few  months,  as  in  the  November 
after  his  settlement,  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  the  City  of  New  York. 
In  consequence  of  declining  health,  which  it  was  sup 
posed  a  change  of  air  might  benefit,  he  removed  to 
Albany,  where  he  died  in  January,  1808. 

Mr.  Linn  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  King's  College  in  1789.  He  enjoyed  a 
high '  reputation  as  a  pulpit  orator.  His  delivery  was 
very  emphatic,  and  his  gesticulations  often  violent.  He 
was  in  great  demand  on  charitable  and  public  occasions. 
In  a  series  of  sermons  on  the  Signs  of  the  Times,  which 
were  afterwards  published,  he  excited  interest  and  much 
opposition  among  a  certain  class,  owing  to  the  strong 
ground  taken  in  them  in  favour  of  the  French  Revolu 
tion,  a  movement  of  which  he  was  a  warm  partisan,  until 
it  became  identified  with  infidelity  and  anarchy.  In  a 
sermon  preached  before  the  Tammany  Society  on  the 
4th  of  July,  1791,  after  claiming  with  Mr.  Jefferson,  that 
"  making  due  allowance  for  our  age  and  numbers,  we 
have  produced  as  many  eminent  men  as  fall  to  our 
share  ;"  and  invoking  the  patriotism  of  the  country,  he 
plunged  into  an  attack  on  the  foes  of  liberty,  Edmund 
Burke  in  particular,  and  a  glorification  of  the  French 
Revolution.  "  May  we  not,"  he  says,  "  indulge  the  pleas 
ing  thought,  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  tyran- 


1772. 

ny  everywhere  shall  be  destroyed  ;  when  mankind  shall 
be  the  slaves  of  monsters  and  idiots  no  more,  but  recover 
the  true  dignity  of  their  nature  !  The  cause  of  liberty  is 
continually  gathering  strength.  The  advocates  of  des 
potic  rule  must  fail.  The  British  orator,  though  he  sub 
limely  rave,  he  raves  in  vain.  No  force  of  genius,  no 
brilliancy  of  fancy,  and  no  ornament  of  language  can  sup 
port  his  wretched  cause.  He  and  his  abettors  only  has 
ten  its  downfall.  The  Revolution  in  France  is  great,  is 
astonishing,  is  glorious.  It  is,  perhaps,  not  just  to  say, 
that  the  flame  was  kindled  by  us,  but  certainly  we  con 
tinue  to  blow  and  increase  it,  as  France  will  in  other  na 
tions,  until  blaze  joining  blaze,  shall  illumine  the  darkest 
and  remotest  corners  of  the  earth." 

The  publications  of  Dr.  Linn  are  :  A  Military  Discourse,  delivered  in 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  1776.  The  Spiritual  Death  and  Life  of  the  Believer,  and  the 
Character  and  Misery  of  the  Wicked  ;  two  Sermons  in  the  American  Preach 
er,  Volume  I.  A  Sermon  on  American  Independence,  1791.  A  volume  of 
Discourses  entitled  Sermons  Historical  and  Characteristical,  1791.  A  Se 
ries  of  Sermons  on  the  Signs  of  the  Times,  1794.  A  Sermon  at  a  Fast,  1798. 
A  Funeral  Eulogy  on  Washington,  1800. 

William  Smith  Livingston,  a  son  of  Robert  James 
Livingston,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  an  attorney  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the  April  Term, 
1780.  During  the  war  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  army.  Afterwards  he  practised  law  in  the  City 
of  New  York. 

George  Luckey  was  a  native  of  Faggs  Manor,  Penn 
sylvania.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle  in  1776,  and  was  ordained  and  settled  as  pastor  of 
Bethel  and  Centre  Churches,  Hartford  County,  Mary 
land,  where  he  preached  until  1799,  when  he  resigned. 
Mr.  Luckey  was  a  fine  classical  scholar,  an  intelligent 
preacher,  in  his  manners  plain,  in  labours  unwearied. 
Very  few  had  an  equal  acquaintance  with  the  Scriptures. 
He  died  at  Bethel,  probably  in  1819,  as  his  name  disap 
pears  from  the  roll  of  Synod  in  that  year. 


1772. 

Samuel  EuseMus  Maccorkle  was  born  in  Lancas 
ter  County,  Pennsylvania,  August  23,  1746.  His  parents 
removed  to  North  Carolina  when  he  was  quite  young, 
and  he  was  prepared  for  college  by  Rev.  David  Cald- 
well  of  the  Class  of  1761.  After  graduating,  he  studied 
theology  with  his  maternal  uncle,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Mont 
gomery,  of  the  class  of  1755,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1754.  For  two  years  he  la 
boured  as  a  missionary  in  Virginia,  and  in  1776  returned 
to  North  Carolina,  and  on  the  2d  of  August,  1777,  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Thyatira,  where  he  re 
mained  until  his  death. 

He  was  an  active  friend  of  his  country  in  its  struggles 
for  liberty,  and  was  an  earnest  champion  for  the  truth 
against  the  rising  tide  of  French  infidelitv  which  threat 
ened  to  sweep  the  land. 

In  1785,  Mr.  Mccorkle  commenced  a  classical  school 
in  his  own  house,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Zion  Par- 
nasus.  The  first  class  that  graduated  at  the  State  Uni 
versity,  consisted  of  seven  students,  six  of  whom  were 
from  his  school.  Forty-five  of  his  scholars  afterwards 
became  ministers.  At  the  establishment  of  the  Univer 
sity  of  North  Carolina,  the  state  of  the  funds  did  not  per 
mit  them  to  appoint  a  President,  but  Mr.  Maccorkle  was 
elected  the  first  Professor,  having  the  Chair  of  Moral  and 
Political  Philosophy.  He  was  a  thorough  scholar,  and 
kept  up  his  acquaintance,  not  only  with  the  Latin  and 
Greek  classics,  but  with  mathematics,  philosophy,  and 
every  important  branch  of  learning. 

In  person,  Mr.  Maccorkle  was  tall,  about  six  feet  one 
inch  ;  finely  formed  ;  light  hair  and  pale  blue  eyes  ;  mild, 
grave  and  dignified  in  his  appearance ;  cheerful  in  dis 
position  ;  and  of  fine  conversational  powers.  Firm  in  his 
opinions,  and  devotedly  attached  to  the  doctrines  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  he  never  unnecessarily  attacked  the 
opinions  or  forms  of  others.  In  appearance  and  gait,  he 
is  said  to  have  very  much  resembled  Mr.  Jefferson.  He 
died  January  21,  1811.  The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 

[156] 


1772. 

of    Divinity  was    conferred   on   him    by    Dartmouth    in 

1792. 

His  publications  are:  A  Sermon  on  Sacrifices,  1792.  A  Charity  Sermon 
delivered  on  several  occasions,  1793.  A  National  Thanksgiving  Sermon, 
entitled,  The  Comparative  Happiness  and  Duty  of  the  United  States  of 
America  contrasted  with  other  Nations,  particularly  the  Israelites,  1795. 
A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Laying  of  the  Corner  Stone  of  the  University  of 
North  Carolina.  Four  Discourses  on  the  great  first  principles  of  Deism 
and  Revelation  contrasted,  1797.  Three  Discourses  on  Christian  Commu 
nion.  A  National  Fast  Sermon,  entitled,  The  Work  of  God  for  the  French 
Republic  ;  and  then  her  Reformation  or  Ruin  ;  or,  The  Novel  and  Use 
ful  Experiment  of  National  Deism  to  us  and  all  mankind.  A  Sermon 
entitled,  The  Angel's  Seal  set  upon  God's  Faithful  Servants,  when  Hurtful 
Winds  are  Blowing  in  the  Church  Militant. 

John  McMillan,  a  native  of  Chester  County,  Penn 
sylvania,  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  founders  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  our  Western  country.  He  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  the  New  Castle,  October 
26,  1774.  In  1775,  he  made  a  missionary  tour  through 
the  Valley  of  Virginia,  enduring  much  privation  and 
meeting  many  difficulties.  He  made  a  second  tour  to 
the  same  region  in  1776. 

Crossing  into  Western  Pennsylvania,  he  was  ordained 
and  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Congregations  of  Chartiers 
and  Pigeon  Creek.  Here  he  had  to  build  his  own  house  ; 
had  neither  bedsteads  nor  tables,  nor  stools,  chairs  or  buck 
ets.  Boxes  served  him  for  tables,  and  kegs  for  seats. 
Sometimes  he  had  no  bread  for  weeks;  but  his  health 
was  good,  and  he  once  remarked  that  he  had  not  from 
his  earliest  recollection  been  confined  half  a  day  by  sick 
ness  during  his  whole  life.  The  revivals  which  occurred 
in  his  congregations  are  some  of  the  most  remarkable  in 
the  history  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  McMillan  very  early  turned  his  attention  to  the 
education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry.  He  started  a 
school  within  a  year  after  he  removed  his  family  to  the 
West.  In  1791,  his  school  became  merged  with  an  acad 
emy  at  Cannonsburg,  which  in  time  became  Jefferson 
College. 

[157] 


1772. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  McMillan  was  far  from  at 
tractive  ;  he  was  about  six  feet  high,  and  walked  with 
his  head  and  neck  inclined  forward.  He  was  of  a  stout 
and  clumsy  form,  his  features  coarse,  his  nose  very  prom 
inent,  and  his  general  aspect  somewhat  forbidding.  He 
wrote  out  his  sermons  in  full,  and  learned  them  by  heart. 
His  voice  was  strong  and  coarse,  and  he  poured  out  his 
words  in  such  a  torrent  that  it  often  offended  delicate 
ears. 

He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Div 
inity  from  Jefferson  College  in  1805.  Dr.  McMillan's  in 
fluence  in  preaching  the  Gospel  himself,  and  training 
others  for  the  same  work,  it  is  not  easy  to  estimate.  He 
died  November  5,  1833. 

Oliver  Reese  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  in  1774,  and  in  1775  was  ordained  and 
settled  as  pastor  of  Wilton  Presbyterian  Church  in  South 
Carolina.  Among  the  accounts  of  the  Church  still  ex 
tant,  is  a  bill  of  one  Christian  Mote  against  the  Trustees, 
for  a  dinner  furnished  for  "  fifty  persons  and  fifteen  boys 
at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Oliver  Reese."  The  bill 
amounted  to  £77.  There  is  also  a  bill  against  "  the  es 
tate  of  Rev.  Oliver  Reese,"  of  a  tailor  named  Long,  for 
"two  suits  of  cloaths,"  at  a  cost  of  £20.  It  is  probable 
that  he  was  a  young  man  of  promise.  The  congregation 
seem  to  have  rejoiced  in  securing  him  as  their  pastor  in 
these  troublous  times.  But  his  connexion  with  them, 
and  his  work  on  earth  were  alike  brief.  He  died  either 
in  the  same  year  or  the  succeeding  one. 

James  Templetoii  received  his  license  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Hanover,  October  26,  1775,  soon  after 
which  he  removed  to  North  Carolina.  In  1794,  he  be 
came  stated  supply  of  Nazareth  Church  in  South  Caro 
lina,  and  continued  so  for  nearly  eight  years.  He  is 
spoken  of  as  being  far  from  an  animated  preacher,  but  as 
taking  a  great  interest  in  the  general  business  of  the 


1772. 

church.  In  1797,  Mr.  Templeton  was  at  the  head  of  the 
"  Philanthropic  Society,"  organized  with  the  view  of  ad 
vancing  and  perpetuating  an  academy  of  high  order. 
This  Society  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of 
South  Carolina  in  1797. 

[-59] 


1773- 

James  Francis  Armstrong  was  a  native  of  Mary 
land.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle 
in  January,  1777,  and  ordained  in  January,  1778.  He 
was  appointed  Chaplain  in  Sullivan's  Brigade,  and  ac 
companied  the  troops  on  the  Southern  campaign.  He 
remained  in  the  army  until  the  surrender  of  Yorktown. 
In  1782,  Mr.  Armstrong  returned  to  New  Jersey,  and 
supplied  the  church  in  Elizabethtown  lately  made  vacant 
by  the  murder  of  Rev.  James  Caldwell.  In  1783,  he  sus 
pended  his  labours  on  account  of  ill  health  ;  but  in  1786 
he  resumed  them  again,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  In  1815,  Mr. 
Armstrong  performed  his  last  public  service.  He  was 
in  personal  appearance  noble  and  striking.  He  had  a 
princely,  generous  spirit,  which  always  answered  to  the 
claims  of  human  wretchedness.  The  interest  of  letters 
and  religion  were  more  than  anything  else  impressive 
and  absorbing  with  him.  He  was  an  acceptable  preach 
er,  and  had  his  health  remained  firm,  would  have  been 
an  eloquent  and  attractive  one,  beyond  most  of  his  con 
temporaries.  From  1790  to  1816  he  was  a  Trustee  of  the 
college.  He  died  January  19,  1816. 

David  Bard  received  his  license  to  preach  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Donegal,  about  1777.  In  1778  he  was  or 
dained  and  installed  by  the  same  Presbytery,  pastor  of 
the  Church  in  Bedford,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  after 
wards  settled  at  Frankstown  in  the  same  State.  Mr. 
Bard  was  a  representative  in  Congress  from  Pennsylva 
nia  from  1795  to  1799  ;  and  again  from  1803  to  1813.  He 
died  in  1813. 

[160] 


'773- 

Ebenezer  Bradford  was  born  in  Canterbury,  Con 
necticut.  After  leaving  college  he  studied  theology,  and 
from  April,  1777,  to  November,  1779,  was  stated  supply 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Danbury,  Con 
necticut.  On  August  4,  1782,  he  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  Church  at  Rowley,  Massachusetts,  where  he  contin 
ued  to  labour  until  his  death  in  1801. 

Mr.  Bradford  was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at 
Dartmouth  in  1785,  and  at  Brown  University  in  1800. 

Mr.  Bradford  published,  A  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Nathaniel  Howe, 
Hopkinton,  Massachusetts,  1791.  Strictures  on  Dr.  Langdon's  Remarks 
on  Hopkins's  System.  1794.  A  Fast  Sermon.  1795.  A  Sermon  at  the  In- 
stallation  of  Rev.  John  H.  Stevens.  1795. 

Archibald  Craig.  From  the  best  information  I  can 
obtain,  Mr.  Craig  was  a  native  of  Monmouth  County, 
New  Jersey.  He  studied  medicine  and  removed  to  Al 
bany,  New  York,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for 
many  years  ;  dying  at  an  advanced  age. 

Thaddeus  Dod  was  born  near  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
He  became  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  West.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presby 
tery  of  New  York  in  1775.  In  1777,  getting  up  from  a 
bed  of  sickness,  he  made  a  missionary  tour  through 
Maryland  and  Virginia.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  the 
Indians  had  made  a  formidable  attack  upon  Fort  Henry 
at  the  mouth  of  Wheeling  Creek.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  events  in  the  Border  warfare.  For 
weeks  after  the  whole  county  was  anticipating  another 
attack.  While  in  this  state  of  apprehension  and  anxiety, 
there  arrived  a  young  man  of  slender  form,  black  hair, 
and  keen  penetrating  dark  eyes,  not  unknown  to  some  of 
the  inhabitants ;  and  his  arrival  gave  them  no  ordinary 
joy.  It  was  the  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dod.  He  had  been  or 
dained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  to  go  out  to  the 
frontier,  and  he  entered  at  once  on  his  work.  His  co- 
labourers  in  those  bloody  times  were,  Smith,  McMillan 
ii  [161] 


'773- 

and  Power,  all  graduates  of  Princeton.  Mr.  Dod  was  a 
remarkable  scholar,  especially  in  mathematics.  An  in 
teresting  anecdote  is  related  of  him  by  a  relative :  Be 
fore  the  death  of  Chief-Justice  Kirkpatrick,  who  was  a 
Trustee  of  the  college,  Albert  B.  Dod  was  nominated  for 
the  Mathematical  chair,  and  the  Chief-Justice  remarked, 
that  he  was  not  acquainted  with  the  candidate,  and  did 
not  know  his  reputation  as  a  mathematician  ;  neverthe 
less  he  would  vote  for  him  most  cheerfully  ;  he  liked  the 
name ;  that  he  never  knew  a  Dod  that  was  not  born  a 
mathematician;  that  there  was  one  Thaddeus  Dod  in 
college  when  he  was  a  student  who  seemed  to  understand 
mathematics  by  instinct ;  that  all  the  students  applied  to 
him  for  aid  when  anything  difficult  occurred  in  their 
mathematical  studies.  He  presumed  the  candidate  was 
of  the  same  stock,  and  he  would  vote  for  him.  Professor 
Dod  was  the  grand  nephew  of  Thaddeus  Dod.  Mr.  Dod 
was  not  only  a  fine  mathematician,  but  was  as  eminent 
as  a  classical  scholar,  and  had  an  exquisite  taste  for  mu 
sic.  He  laboured  faithfully  in  building  up  the  Church 
and  the  cause  of  higher  education  till  his  death. 

When  we  consider  a  man  of  such  mathematical  talent, 
classical  taste,  and  poetic  imagination,  we  cannot  but  ad 
mire  the  orderings  of  Providence,  that  assigned  to  such 
a  man  such  a  perilous  and  self-denying  charge.  Often 
were  he  and  his  family  driven  to  the  neighbouring  fort 
by  the  savages,  and  they  were  in  constant  danger  and 
alarm. 

Mr.  Dod  had  not  been  long  at  his  post  before  he  started 
a  classical  school  under  the  very  walls  of  the  fort,  his 
neighbours  turning  out  and  erecting  a  building  for  him. 
On  the  2Oth  of  January,  1789,  he  was  appointed  the  first 
Principal  of  Washington  Academy,  at  Washington,  Penn 
sylvania,  which  had  been  incorporated  in  1787.  This 
academy,  under  a  new  charter,  became  Washington  Col 
lege.  Mr.  Dod  died  in  1793. 

James  Dunlap  is  a  fit  companion  to  his  classmate 

[162] 


1773- 

Dod.  He  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  after  graduating,  acted  as  tutor  for  two  years.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  sometime 
between  1776  and  1781,  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Castle,  August  21,  1781.  Shortly  after  his  ordi 
nation  he  removed  to  Western  Pennsylvania  and  settled 
first  at  Little  Redstone  and  Dunlap  Creek  ;  afterwards 
he  became  pastor  of  Laurel  Hill  Church,  where  he  re 
mained  until  1803,  Avhen  he  was  elected  President  of  Jef 
ferson  College.  This  post  he  held  until  1811.  He  is 
represented  to  have  been  a  very  pious  man  and  a  re 
markable  scholar.  He  was  especially  distinguished  for 
his  accurate  attainments  in  classical  literature.  He  seem 
ed  to  have  the  classics  completely  in  his  memory ;  for  he 
could  hear  long  recitations  in  Virgil,  Homer,  etc.,  with 
out  a  book  in  his  hand,  and  then  thoroughly  drill  the 
reciting  class ;  asking  all  the  words  and  sentences  while 
walking  to  and  fro  with  his  hands  behind  his  back — his 
usual  position  on  such  occasions.  He  received  the  de 
gree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Jefferson  College  in  1806. 
Dr.  Dunlap  died  in  1818. 

William  Graham  stood  pre-eminent  in  college,  and 
during  the  course  anticipated  a  whole  year.  He  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  on  the  26th  of 
October,  1775.  He  immediately  took  charge  of  a  class 
ical  school  which  had  been  started  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
in  the  Valley  of  Virginia.  After  a  short  time  the  school 
was  removed  to  Timber  Ridge,  and  Mr.  Graham  became 
pastor  of  the  church  as  well  as  rector  of  the  school.  On 
account  of  the  troubles  occasioned  by  the  war,  the  build 
ings  at  Timber  Ridge  were  abandoned  ;  Mr.  Graham 
removing  to  a  farm,  but  still  attempting  to  keep  up  the 
school  at  Timber  Ridge.  This  becoming  inconvenient, 
he  opened  a  school  at  his  own  house.  In  course  of  time 
a  building  for  the  school  was  erected,  when  in  1782  it 
received  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  the  name  of  Liberty 
Hall ;  which  name  it  retained  until  it  was  endowed  by 

[163] 


*773- 

General  Washington,  when  his  name  was  substituted  for 
that  which  it  had  before  borne.  Before  this  donation 
was  received,  Mr.  Graham  had  resigned  his  office  of 
President. 

Mr.  Graham  possessed  a  mind  formed  for  accurate  and 
profound  investigation.  He  had  studied  the  Latin  and 
Greek  classics  with  great  care,  and  relished  the  beauties 
of  these  exquisite  compositions.  He  was  a  lover  of  natu 
ral  science.  But  the  science  which  engaged  his  atten 
tion  more  than  all  others,  except  Theology,  was  the  Phi 
losophy  of  the  Mind.  From  the  time  of  his  ordination, 
in  1775,  he  became  a  teacher  of  Theology.  He  was  not 
much  given  to  writing  nor  the  reading  of  many  books ; 
but  he  was  a  nervous  and  independent  thinker.  Kaimes 
and  Butler  were  his  favourite  authors.  He  was  dis 
tinguished  for  the  depth  and  boldness  of  his  investiga 
tions,  and  loved  to  examine  every  subject  for  himself. 
He  confessed  that  the  chief  advantage,  he  derived  from 
books,  was  from  the  table  of  contents,  which  suggested 
to  his  mind  matter  for*  thought.  As  a  preacher  he  was 
at  once  argumentative  and  impressive ;  but  it  was  as  a 
teacher  that  his  excellence  was  most  apparent.  His 
lectures  were  fascinating,  from  their  originality  and  inge 
nuity  ;  while  his  penetrating  eye  and  the  power  of  sar 
casm  kept  the  most  unruly  in  awe. 

It  may  truly  be  said  that  the  patriotic  fire  burned  in 
no  bosom  with  a  warmer  flame  than  in  that  of  Mr.  Gra 
ham.  On  a  certain  occasion  it  was  resolved,  by  order  of 
the  Governor,  to  raise  a  volunteer  company  of  riflemen  to 
go  into  active  service  ;  but  there  appeared  to  be  a  back 
wardness  in  the  men  to  come  forward.  Mr.  Graham, 
who  was  present,  stepped  out  and  had  his  own  name  en 
rolled,  which  produced  such  an  effect  that  the  company 
was  immediately  filled,  of  which  he  was  unanimously 
elected  Captain ;  but  they  were  not  called  into  service. 

Mr.  Graham  died  June  8,  1799. 

Hugh  Hodge,  a  younger  brother  of  Andrew  Hodge 

[  164] 


of  the  previous  class,  after  graduating,  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  John  Cadwalader,  of  Philadelphia ;  and  when 
the  Revolution  broke  out  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country.  He  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  First  Bat 
talion,  Cadwalader  Brigade.  He  served  a  short  time,  and 
was  captured  by  the  British  at  Fort  Washington,  New 
York.  He  was  released  on  parole  through  the  exertions 
of  Robert  Morris.  While  upon  parole,  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  with  his  brother  Andrew  ;  but.  owing 
to  captures  at  sea  and  other  causes,  they  were  not  very 
successful.  He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
about  1788  or  1789,  and  rose  to  eminence  in  connection 
with  Drs.  Rush  and  Wistar.  He  was  the  father  of  Dr. 
Charles  Hodge,  of  Princeton.  He  died  in  Philadelphia. 

Andrew  King  was  born  in  North  Carolina.  He 
was  probably  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York 
in  1775.  On  the  nth  of  June,  1777,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Wall- 
kill,  New  York.  He  continued  in  this  relation  until  his 
death,  November  16,  1815.  Mr.  King  was  neither  learned 
nor  eloquent,  but  was  greatly  prospered  during  his  min 
istry.  He  was  known  as  a  "  peace-maker,"  and  in  various 
instances  was  called  on  by  the  Presbytery  to  settle  dif 
ferences  in  congregations. 

Henry  Lee  was  a  son  of  Henry  Lee,  of  Prince  Wil 
liam  County,  Virginia.  He  is  commonly  known  as 
"  Light  Horse  Harry."  In  1774  he  was  appointed  a 
Captain  of  Cavalry  under  Colonel  Bland.  His  skill  in 
discipline,  and  his  gallant  bearing,  soon  attracted  the  no 
tice  of  Washington,  and  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Major,  and  then  advanced  to  that  of  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
From  1780  to  the  close  of  the  war,  he  served  under  Gen 
eral  Green.  The  services  of  Lee's  Legion  in  various 
actions  were  very  important ;  he  especially  distinguished 
himself  at  the  Battle  of  Guilford  ;  afterwards  he  suc 
ceeded  in  capturing  Fort  Cornwallis  and  other  forts ;  he 

t  '65] 


'773- 

was  also  conspicuous  at  Ninety  Six  and  at  the  Eutaw 
Springs.  In  1786  he  was  appointed  to  Congress  from 
Virginia,  in  which  position  he  remained  until  the  Consti 
tution  was  adopted.  In  1791  he  became  Governor  of 
Virginia,  and  remained  in  office  for  three  years.  By 
appointment  of  Washington  he  commanded  the  forces 
sent  to  suppress  the  Whisky  Insurrection  in  Pennsyl 
vania.  In  1799  he  was  again  in  Congress,  and  was  se 
lected  to  pronounce  a  funeral  oration  on  Washington, 
in  which  occurred  the  memorable  words,  "  First  in  war, 
first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen." 
After  the  accession  of  Mr.  Jefferson  in  1801,  he  retired 
to  private  life.  He  was  an  uncle  of  the  late  General 
Robert  E.  Lee.  He  died  March  25,  1818. 

General  Lee  published,  An  Oration  on  the  Death  of  Washington,  1800. 
Memoirs  of  the  War  in  the  South,  z  vols.  8vo,  1812. 

Morgan  Lewis,  a  son  of  one  of  the  Signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  After  graduating,  he  entered  the  army,  and 
at  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne,  was  a  Colonel  of 
one  of  the  Continental  regiments.  In  1791  he  was  ap 
pointed  Attorney  -  General  of  New  York,  succeeding 
Aaron  Burr ;  and  in  1801  he  was  appointed  to  the  Bench 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  the  next  year  being 
made  Chief -Justice.  Brockholst  Livingston  and  Smith 
Thompson,  two  graduates  of  Princeton,  were  appointed 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  the  same  time.  In  1804 
he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State — his  opponent  be 
ing  Aaron  Burr. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  a  kind  parent,  a  benevolent  man,  a  good 
citizen  and  an  able  lawyer.  He  died  in  New  York,  April 
7,  1844,  at  the  advanced  age  of  90. 

John  Linn,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in 
the  year  1749.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  Donegal  in  December,  1776.  Shortly  after,  he 
was  ordained  and  became  pastor  of  Sherman  Valley 

[,66] 


'773- 

Churches  in  Pennsylvania.  He  remained  here  till  the 
close  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Linn  was  of  medium  height,  portly  and  symmetrical 
in  his  form,  and  muscular  and  active  in  his  bodily  move 
ments.  He  was  accustomed  to  write  out  his  sermons  in 
full  and  deliver  them  from  memory.  He  had  a  remark 
ably  clear  voice,  and  spoke  with  great  solemnity  and  im- 
pressiveness.  He  was  distinguished  for  sobriety  of  mind 
rather  than  versatility — reflection  rather  than  imagina 
tion.  In  his  family,  and  indeed  in  all  his  relations,  he 
was  a  fine  example  of  Christian  dignity,  tenderness  and 
fidelity. 

He  died  in  1820. 

James  Maccoimell  received  license  and  was  ordain 
ed  by  Hanover  Presbytery,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  High  Bridge,  Virginia,  June 
18,  1778.  By  indiscretion  and  want  of  family  economy, 
he  became  involved  in  difficulties,  and  ceased  to  serve 
the  congregation.  In  1787  he  removed  beyond  the  Alle- 
ghanies. 

John  McKiiight  was  born  near  Carlisle,  Pennsyl 
vania,  October  i,  1754.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presby- 
tery  of  Donegal  about  1774,  and  ordained  in  1775.  The 
same  year  he  removed  to  Virginia,  and  became  pastor  of 
a  congregation  at  Elk  Branch.  He  remained  in  this 
charge  till  1783,  when  he  removed  to  Adams  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  became  pastor  of  Lower  Marsh  Creek 
Presbyterian  Church. 

An  amusing  incident  is  related  in  connection  with  his 
pastorate  at  this  place.  He  had  just  ordained  three  rul 
ing  elders ;  and  one  of  them  was  appointed  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  Presbytery  to  be  held  the  next  week.  He 
came  to  the  pastor  on  the  evening  of  the  day  of  his  ordi 
nation,  under  a  good  deal  of  agitation,  to  inquire  what 
were  the  duties  that  would  be  expected  of  him.  Perceiv 
ing  the  state  of  his  mind,  Mr.  McKnight  assumed  a  seri- 

[167] 


'773- 

ous  air,  and  replied — "  You  are  to  see  that  my  horse  is 
fed  and  saddled  in  time  to  start;  to  go  before  and  have 
breakfast  and  dinner  prepared  for  us ;  to  pay  the  bills, 
and  in  Presbytery  to  vote  as  I  do."  This  playfulness 
relieved  the  anxious  elder,  whose  countenance  changed 
from  its  solemn  gravity  to  a  smile, — when  opportunity 
was  given  to  inform  him  what  his  real  duties  would  be 
as  a  member  of  the  body. 

In  1789  Mr.  McKnight  became  colleague  pastor  with 
Dr.  Rodgers  in  New  York  City.  In  1791  Yale  conferred 
upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
Dr.  McKnight  remained  in  New  York  in  the  faithful  dis 
charge  of  his  duties  for  twenty  years.  In  1809  ne  resign 
ed  his  charge,  and  removed  to  the  neighbourhood  of 
Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania.  In  1815  he  was  elected 
President  of  Dickinson  College,  but  resigned  the  Chair 
in  little  more  than  a  year,  returning  to  his  farm  near 
Chambersburg,  where  he  died  October  21,  1823. 

Dr.  McKnight  was  a  man  of  slender  person,  and  rather 
above  the  medium  height.  His  manner  was  graceful  and 
dignified. ,  As  a  preacher  he  was  calm  and  dispassionate. 

Dr.  McKnight  published,  Six  Sermons  on  Faith,  1790.  A  Sermon  before 
the  New  York  Missionary  Society,  1799.  A  Sermon  on  the  present  state 
of  the  political  and  religious  world,  1802.  A  Sermon  on  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  John  King,  1811. 

Aaron  Ogdeii  belonged  to  a  distinguished  family  of 
Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey.  After  leaving  college  he 
became  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  school  of  Francis  Bar 
ber  of  the  class  of  1767.  In  the  winter  of  1775-1776,  he 
was  one  of  a  party  of  young  men  who  boarded  and  cap 
tured  a  vessel  lying  off  Sandy  Hook,  and  carried  her 
safely  into  Elizabethport.  In  the  spring  of  1777,  the 
school  of  Mr.  Barber  was  broken  up  ;  and  principal  and 
assistant  both  entered  the  army,  the  one  as  a  major,  the 
other  as  a  captain.  Mr.  Ogden  remained  in  the  service 
till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  at  the  Battle  of  Brandy- 
wine  in  1777;  and  was  in  the  advanced  corps  of  General 

[  '68] 


J773- 

Lee  at  the  Battle  of  Monmouth,  and  served  as  aid-de 
camp  to  Lord  Stirling  on  that  memorable  day.  In  1779, 
he  attended  Sullivan  in  his  expedition  against  the  In 
dians,  and  was  at  the  Battle  of  Springfield  in  1780,  where 
he  had  a  horse  shot  under  him,  and  highly  distinguished 
himself.  The  same  year  he  was  chosen  from  the  whole 
army  by  General  Washington  to  go  upon  a  most  deli 
cate  and  interesting  mission  to  the  British  lines,  the  pur 
pose  of  which  was  to  effect,  if  possible,  an  exchange  of 
Arnold  for  Andre,  which  duty  he  performed  with  the  ut 
most  skill  and  address. 

At  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  the  company  which  he  com 
manded,  stormed  the  left  redoubt  of  the  enemy,  for  which 
he  was  honoured  with  the  peculiar  approbation  of  Wash 
ington. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Ogden  devoted  himself  to 
the  study  and  practice  of  the  law,  and  for  many  years 
occupied  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  foremost  rank  at  the 
New  Jersey  Bar.  From  1801  to  1803,  he  served  as  a 
Senator  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
1812,  was  elected  Governor  of  his  native  state. 

To  learning  and  industry,  Mr.  Ogden  united  great  in 
genuity  and  fertility  of  resources,  quickness  and  accura 
cy  of  discrimination,  and  an  eloquence  which  at  times, 
when  he  was  deeply  moved  or  strongly  excited,  was  of  a 
very  high  order.  His  manner  was  gracious  and  impos 
ing  ;  his  voice,  though  not  musical,  was  strong  and  va 
ried  ;  his  countenance  had  great  power  and  diversity  of 
expression  ;  but,  more  than  all  this,  he  understood  well 
the  springs  of  human  action. 

He  died  April  19,  1839. 

Richard  Platt  was  a  gallant  soldier  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  a  major  in  the  New  York  line.  He  was  at  Quebec 
with  Montgomery,  and  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at 
Yorktown.  He  died  in  New  York,  March  4th,  1830. 

Belcher  Peartree  Smith  was  a  son  of  the  eminent 

[  169  ] 


'773- 

William  Peartree  Smith  of  Elizabethtown,  one  of  the 
original  Trustees  of  the  college.  He  studied  law  after 
graduation,  and  practiced  in  Elizabethtown.  He  died  in 
1787. 

John  Blair  Smith  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Robert 
Smith  of  Pequea,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  June  12, 
1756.  He  received  license  from  Hanover  Presbytery, 
June  1 8,  1777.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  body  Octo 
ber  26,  1779.  At  the  same  meeting  of  Presbytery  his 
brother,  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  asked  leave  to  resign 
the  Presidency  of  Hampden  Sidney  College;  his  request 
was  granted,  and  John  Blair  Smith  was  immediately  ap 
pointed  to  succeed  him. 

During  the  revival  which  swept  through  Virginia  in 
1786  and  1787,  Mr.  Smith  entered  into  the  work  with 
such  glowing  zeal,  and  his  preaching  was  so  eloquent 
and  powerful,  that  his  services  were  in  constant  demand 
at  places  remote  from  his  residence.  In  1789,  he  resigned 
his  office  in  order  to  give  himself  up  wholly  to  preach 
ing.  In  1791,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Pine  Street  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  and  in  1795  he  was  elected  the  first  Pres 
ident  of  Union  College,  New  York ;  but  after  presiding 
over  that  infant  institution  for  three  years,  he  returned 
to  his  former  charge  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  installed 
in  1799.  He  died  of  yellow  fever  in  Philadelphia,  Au 
gust,  22,  1799.  In  J793>  tne  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  Hampden-Sidney  and  Union 
Colleges. 

The  natural  disposition  of  Dr.  Smith  was  full  of  vivaci 
ty,  his  temper  quiet,  and  his  actions  rapid.  At  first  his 
preaching  was  less  impressive  than  his  brother's  ;  but  at 
the  commencement  of  the  great  revival,  he  underwent  a 
great  change  in  his  own  feelings  and  in  the  fervency  of 
his  preaching,  so  that  he  became  one  of  the  most  power 
ful  preachers  of  the  day. 

In  person  he  was  about  the  middle  size.  His  hair  was 
uncommonly  black,  and  was  divided  on  the  top  and  fell 


'773- 

down  on  each  side  of  his  face.  A  large  blue  eye  of  open 
expression,  was  so  piercing,  that  it  was  common  to  say 
Dr.  Smith  looked  you  through. 

Dr.  Smith's  only  acknowledged  publication  was  A  Sermon  entitled,  "  The 
Enlargement  of  Christ's  Kingdom,  the  Object  of  a  Christian's  Prayers  and 
Exertions,"  delivered  in  the  Dutch  Church,  Albany,  before  the  Northern 
Missionary  Society  of  N.  Y.,  1797. 

William  R.  Smith,  a  brother  of  President  Samuel 
Stanhope  Smith,  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Castle  in  1776;  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Second 
Church  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  about  1786;  resigned 
his  charge  in  1796,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  of  Harlingen  and  Shannock,  New  Jer 
sey,  in  which  relation  he  died  about  the  year  1820.  Mr. 
Smith  was  plain  in  his  manners,  a  judicious  and  instruc 
tive  preacher,  without  much  power  of  elocution,  a  faith 
ful  pastor,  and  amiable  and  exemplary  in  his  spirit  and 
deportment. 

Samuel  Waugh  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  licensed  by  Donegal  Presbytery  in  1777,  and  was 
settled  as  the  pastor  of  the  United  Churches  of  Pennsbor- 
ough  and  Monaghan,  Pennsylvania,  in  1782;  in  which 
relation  he  continued  till  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
January,  1807.  He  was  a  sound  divine,  a  very  accept 
able  preacher,  and  highly  esteemed  by  his  people. 

Lewis  Feuilleteau  Wilson  came  from  the  Island 
of  St.  Christopher.  A  circumstance  occurred  in  con 
nexion  with  his  graduation  that  was  illustrative  equally 
of  his  fine  scholarship,  and  his  noble  spirit.  When  the 
honours  were  distributed  in  his  class  by  the  Trustees  of 
the  college,  five  were  appointed  to  deliver  orations,  and 
the  second  oration  fell  to  him.  When  the  announcement 
was  made  by  the  President,  he  rose  and  made  a  most 
respectful  and  grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  honour 
that  had  been  conferred  upon  him,  but  begged  to  decline 

1 171] 


«773- 

it,  and  expressed  a  wish  that  it  might  be  given  to  another. 
He  was  accordingly  excused,  and  a  person  to  whom  he 
knew  the  appointment  would  be  acceptable,  was  substi 
tuted  in  his  place. 

After  graduation,  he  visited  London,  intending  to  take 
orders  in  the  Church  of  England  ;  but,  changing  his 
mind,  he  returned  to  Princeton,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  Divinity  with  Dr.  Witherspoon.  Being  inter 
rupted  in  his  studies  by  the  war,  he  studied  medicine  and 
acted  as  surgeon  in  the  Continental  army  for  several 
years.  After  the  war,  he  again  visited  England,  and  on 
his  return,  settled  as  a  physician  in  Princeton. 

In  1786,  through  the  influence  of  one  of  his  college 
friends,  he  removed  to  North  Carolina,  but  his  old  desire 
to  preach  the  Gospel  returned,  and  he  abandoned  medi 
cine,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1791  ;  and  in  1793,  he 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Fourth  Creek  and 
Concord  Churches  in  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Wilson  was 
intimately  connected  with  the  great  revivals  in  the  West 
and  South  near  the  end  of  the  last  century.  In  1803,  he 
resigned  his  charge,  and  died  in  perfect  peace  Decem 
ber  11,  1804. 

John  Witherspoon,  a  son  of  President  Wither 
spoon,  studied  medicine,  and  was  settled  for  several 
years  as  a  practitioner  at  St.  Stephens  Parish,  South 
Carolina,  and  is  believed  to  have  died  at  sea  between 
New  York  and  Charleston  in  the  summer  of  1795. 


1774- 

Stephen  Bloomer  Balch  was  born  in  Maryland, 
but  removed  while  a  boy  to  North  Carolina.  After  leav 
ing  college,  he  took  charge  of  a  school  in  Calvert  Coun 
ty,  Maryland,  to  which  he  had  been  recommended  by 
Dr.  Witherspoon.  Here  he  remained  four  years.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  June  17, 
1779,  and  returned  to  North  Carolina.  Here  engaging 
in  missionary  work  he  endured  many  privations.  On 
one  occasion  night  overtook  him,  and  he  entered  a 
strange  dwelling  and  asked  for  a  night's  lodging.  The 
master  of  the  house  was  absent,  but  his  wife  received 
him  hospitably.  Being  much  fatigued  he  soon  fell  asleep, 
but  was  aroused  by  the  arrival  of  the  owner  of  the  house, 
who  proved  to  be  General  Williams  of  North  Carolina ; 
entering  the  room  where  Mr.  Balch  was  sleeping,  he 
said,  "  I  will  allow  no  one  who  is  not  a  Whig  to  sleep 
under  my  roof;"  Mr.  Balch  replied,  "Let  me  rest  in 
peace,  then,  for  I  was  educated  under  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence." 

In  1780,  Mr.  Balch  removed  to  Georgetown,  (D.  C.,) 
and  established  a  Presbyterian  Church.  Here  he  re 
mained  until  his  death,  which  took  place  September  7, 

1833- 

In  person  Mr.  Balch  was  tall  and  rather  commanding. 
His  eyes  were  small  and  keen.  His  gait  was  slow  and 
cautious,  indicating  that  he  was  absent-minded.  He  had 
an  exuberance  of  good  humour,  which  continued  with 
him  till  the  last.  His  preaching  was  generally  doctrinal 
and  characterized  by  great  fearlessness  and  energy. 

William  Bradford  was  born  in  Canterbury,  Con- 

[173] 


J774- 

necticut,  and  after  graduating  was  licensed  by  the  Litch- 
field  South  Association  in  1775.  The  last  years  of  Mr. 
Bradford's  life  were  spent  as  pastor  of  the  North  Congre 
gational  Church  in  Canterbury.  He  died  in  1808. 

Daniel  Breck,  a  native  of  Boston,  became  a  Congre 
gational  minister,  and  entered  the  army  as  a  chaplain, 
and  accompanied  Porter's  regiment  to  Canada  and  shared 
in  the  hardships  and  perils  of  that  campaign.  He  was 
present  in  the  attack  upon  Quebec.  After  the  war  he 
visited  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  delivered  the  first 
sermon  ever  preached  on  the  spot  where  Marietta,  Ohio, 
now  stands.  He  was  a  man  of  high  Christian  character. 
Mr.  Breck  was  the  father  of  Judge  Breck,  of  Kentucky. 
He  died  in  Vermont  in  1845,  aged  ninety-seven  years. 

John  Ewiiig  Calhoim  entered  college  from  North 
Carolina.  After  graduating  he  studied  law,  in  which 
profession  he  became  distinguished.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  South  Carolina  Legislature,  and  in 
1801  represented  that  State  in  the  United  States  Senate. 
He  was  a  man  of  independent  thought  and  resolution. 
He  dared  while  in  the  Senate  to  secede  alone  from  his 
party,  and  to  oppose  singly  a  popular  measure,  because 
it  appeared  to  him  to  be  unconstitutional  and  perilous  in 
its  consequences.  Mr.  Calhoun  was  on  a  select  commit 
tee  to  whom  was  referred  a  modification  of  the  Judiciary 
System  of  the  United  States.  He  died  in  1802. 

John  Noble  dimming  early  espoused  the  cause 
of  his  country,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  a  General.  He 
participated  in  a  number  of  the  battles  of  the  Revolution. 
Mr.  Gumming  was  a  man  of  integrity  and  honour,  a  pa 
tron  of  civil  order  and  a  supporter  of  religious  institu 
tions.  He  died  in  Newark,  July  6,  1821. 

Peter  Fish  was  descended  from  an  old  family  of  Long 
Island.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of 


'774. 

New  York  in  1779.  On  the  2oth  of  October,  1785,  he 
was  appointed  by  the  Presbytery  stated  supply  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Newtown,  Long  Island.  He  re 
mained  here  until  November,  1788,  when  he  removed  to 
Connecticut  Farms,  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  ordained 
and  installed,  March  25,  1789.  He  remained  in  this  charge 
for  ten  years,  when  he  removed  to  Holland  Patent,  New 
York,  where  he  laboured  for  a  time ;  but  being  in  poor 
health,  he  purchased  a  place  in  Newtown,  and  removed 
there  in  the  spring  of  1807,  with  the  intention  of  seeking- 
repose  from  the  arduous  duties  of  the  ministry ;  but  the 
church  becoming  vacant,  he  consented  to  supply  them 
for  a  time,  but  his  labours  were  suddenly  terminated  by 
his  death,  on  November  12,  1810.  He  possessed  through 
life  a  delicacy  of  constitution  that  greatly  restricted  his 
usefulness.  In  person  he  was  tall  and  spare. 

James  Hall  was  born  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania, 
August  22,  1744,  but  removed  to  North  Carolina  while  a 
boy.  He  had  a  high  reputation  while  in  college,  espe 
cially  in  the  exact  sciences ;  insomuch  that,  soon  after  his 
graduation,  Dr.  Witherspoon  expressed  a  desire  that  he 
should  be  retained  in  the  college  as  a  teacher  of  mathe 
matics.  The  proposal  he  declined,  saying  that  he  had 
devoted  his  life  to  the  sacred  ministry.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Orange  about  1776.  He  was  in 
stalled  pastor  of  the  United  Congregations  of  Fourth 
Creek,  Concord,  and  Bethany,  North  Carolina,  April  8, 
1778.  When  the  Revolutionary  war  opened,  he  entered 
with  all  his  heart  into  the  conflict ;  gathering  the  people 
together  and  setting  forth  to  them  their  obligations  as 
patriots,  he  made  most  effective  appeals  in  favour  of  the 
cause  of  liberty.  When  the  forces  of  Cornwallis  were 
desolating  South  Carolina,  Mr.  Hall  assembled  his  flock 
and  addressed  them  with  great  fervour  and  pathos.  A 
select  company  of  cavalry  was  immediately  organized, 
and  by  general  consent  he  was  demanded  for  their  lead 
er,  which  post  he  accepted.  One  of  his  contemporaries 


writes :  "  When  a  boy  at  school  at  Charlotte,  I  saw  James 
Hall  pass  through  the  town  with  a  three-cornered  hat 
and  long  sword,  the  Captain  at  the  head  of  a  company, 
and  Chaplain  of  the  regiment."  Mr.  Hall  accompanied 
an  expedition  into  Georgia  against  the  Indians,  preach 
ing  as  he  had  opportunity.  After  the  skirmish  at  Cow 
an's  Ford,  on  the  Catawba,  between  the  forces  of  Corn- 
wallis  and  the  North  Carolina  Militia,  he  was  selected  by 
General  Green  as  a  suitable  person  to  succeed  General 
Davidson,  who  had  fallen,  and  a  commission  was  actually 
tendered  to  him.  This  he  declined,  on  the  ground  that 
others  could  fill  the  post,  at  least  with  as  much  advan 
tage  as  himself,  while  he  had  solemnly  pledged  his  life  to 
the  defence  of  the  Gospel. 

A  full  account  of  the  actions  of  Mr.  Hall  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  would  fill  a  volume.  His  active,  en 
terprising  spirit  would  not  let  him  be  neuter ;  his  princi 
ples,  drawn  from  the  word  of  God  and  the  doctrines  of 
his  Church,  and  cultivated  by  Dr.  Witherspoon,  carried 
him  with  all  his  heart  to  the  defence  of  his  country. 
To  that  he  gave  his  powers  of  mind,  body  and  estate. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Hall  set  himself  to  repair  the  waste 
places  of  Zion ;  and  he  was  the  instrument  in  bringing 
about  an  extensive  revival  of  religion.  From  1793  to 
1801  he  made  missionary  excursions  through  the  south 
western  States,  an  account  of  which  was  published  in  the 
newspapers  of  the  day. 

He  was  a  warm  friend  of  education.  Soon  after  enter 
ing  upon  his  work,  he  became  connected  with  a  literary 
institution  in  the  neighbourhood  of  his  churches  ;  and 
afterwards  he  opened  an  "  Academy  of  Sciences"  at  his 
own  house,  of  which  he  was  himself  the  sole  Professor. 
He  died  on  the  25th  of  July,  1826. 

Dr.  Hall  published,  A  Sermon  on  Proverbs  xiv.  34,  preached  at  the  open 
ing  of  a  Court  House  in  South  Carolina.  A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Ordi 
nation  of  Mr.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell,  as  pastor  of  Sugar  Creek  Church.  1792. 
A  Narrative  of  a  most  extraordinary  work  of  Religion  in  North  Carolina. 
1802.  A  Report  of  a  Missionary  Tour  through  Mississippi  and  the  South 
western  Country. 


'774- 

Hugh  Hodge,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  cousin 
of  Hugh  Hodge  of  the  class  of  1773,  became  a  merchant 
in  Philadelphia,  and  was  lost  at  sea  going  or  returning 
from  Europe. 

Samuel  Leake  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  After  grad 
ating,  he  received  from  Dr.  Witherspoon  a  written  cer 
tificate  of  his  qualifications  to  teach  Latin,  Greek  and 
Mathematics,  to  which  was  appended  the  following :  "  I 
must  also  add  that  he  gave  particular  attention  to  the 
English  language  while  here,  and  is  probably  better  ac 
quainted  with  its  structure,  propriety  and  force,  than 
most  of  his  years  and  standing  in  this  country."  Mr. 
Leake,  however,  did  not  engage  in  teaching,  but  entered 
upon  the  study  of  the  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  1776.  He  began  the  practice  in  Salem,  New  Jersey, 
but  in  October,  1785,  removed  to  Trenton,  where  he  pur 
sued  his  profession  so  successfully  as  to  be  able  to  retire 
before  he  was  enfeebled  by  age.  He  paid  unusual  atten 
tion  to  the  students  in  his  office,  regularly  devoting  one 
hour  every  day  to  their  examination. 

Mr.  Leake  died  March  8,  1820.  The  epitaph  on  his 
tomb  describes  his  character :  "  Educated  to  the  Bar,  he 
attained  the  highest  degree  of  eminence.  Distinguished 
for  candour,  integrity,  zeal  for  his  clients,  and  profound 
knowledge  of  jurisprudence,  he  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his 
station  with  singular  usefulness,  '  without  fear  and  with 
out  reproach/  Deeply  versed  in  human  literature,  and 
devoutly  studious  of  the  words  of  sacred  truth,  he  lived 
the  life  of  a  Christian  and  died  the  death  of  the  right 
eous.'* 

Henry  Brockholst   Livingston   was  the  son  of 

Governor  William  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey.  In  1776 
he  entered  the  military  family  of  General  Schuyler,  com 
mander  of  the  Northern  army,  and  was  afterwards  at 
tached  to  the  suit  of  Arnold  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of 
Burgoyne.  In  1779,  when  Mr.  Jay,  who  had  married  his 


J774- 

sister,  repaired  to  the  Court  of  Spain,  Mr.  Livingston  ac 
companied  him  as  his  private  secretary.  After  three 
years'  absence  he  returned  and  studied  law,  and  was  ad 
mitted  to  the  Bar  in  1783.  On  the  8th  of  June,  1802,  he 
was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
York.  In  November,  1806,  he  was  appointed  Asso 
ciate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  He  died  in  Washington  during  a  session  of  the 
court,  March  18,  1823.  His  mind  was  acute  and  pow 
erful,  and  he  was  distinguished  as  a  scholar  and  a 
jurist. 

Thomas  Harris  Maccaule.  Nothing  is  known  of 
the  parentage  of  Mr.  Maccaule.  He  was  ordained  and 
settled  as  pastor  of  Centre  Presbyterian  Church  in  North 
Carolina  in  1776.  He  entered  warmly  into  the  Revolu 
tionary  struggle,  and  in  the  time  of  the  invasion  went 
with  his  flock  to  the  field,  and  was  beside  General  David 
son  when  he  fell.  Such  was  his  reputation  in  civil  life, 
that  he  was  nominated  for  Governor,  but  lost  his  election 
by  a  few  votes. 

In  1784  he  was  appointed  President  of  Mount  Zion 
College,  South  Carolina.  The  accommodations  of  the 
college  at  first  were  of  the  most  primitive  kind.  Mr. 
Maccaule  commenced  his  instructions  in  an  old  log- 
cabin  about  twenty -five  feet  by  twenty,  a  story  and  a 
half  high,  with  a  single  chimney.  Upon  taking  charge 
he  proposed  enlarging  the  institution,  on  the  plan  of  his 
Alma  Mater  at  Princeton.  His  plan  was  adopted,  and 
the  institution  was  incorporated  March  19,  1785.  In  1786 
there  were  from  sixty  to  eighty  students  in  the  college. 
Besides  his  duties  in  the  college,  Mr.  Maccaule  had 
charge  of  Jackson  Creek  and  Mount  Olivet  Presbyterian 
Churches,  to  whom  he  preached  until  September,  1792, 
when  he  resigned. 

In  person,  Mr.  Maccaule  was  scarcely  of  a  medium 
height,  but  of  a  stout  frame  and  full  body ;  of  dark, 
piercing  eyes,  a  pleasant  countenance  and  winning  man- 


J774- 

ners.     He  had  a  fine  voice,  and  was  popular  both  as  a 
preacher  and  a  man.     He  died  about  1796. 

Jonathan  Mason  was  a  Senator  of  the  United  States 
from  Massachusetts  from  1800  to  1803,  and  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  from  1817  to  1820. 

Lewis  Morris  entered  the  Continental  Army  from 
New  York  as  a  Major,  and  served  during  the  whole  war. 

William  Stevens  Smith,  after  graduating,  com 
menced  the  study  of  the  law  in  New  York  City,  and  was 
about  finishing  his  studies  when  the  American  Army  as 
sembled  there  after  the  unfortunate  affair  of  Long  Island. 
He  immediately  resolved  to  take  arms  in  defence  of  his 
country,  but  his  parents  disapproving  of  this  step,  he 
enlisted  as  a  common  soldier,  without  making  himself 
known,  or  pretending  to  any  superior  rank.  Being  one 
day  on  duty  at  the  door  of  a  general  officer,  he  was  dis 
covered  by  a  friend  of  the  family,  who  spoke  of  him  to 
that  general  officer.  He  was  immediately  invited  to  din 
ner  ;  but  he  answered  that  he  could  not  quit  his  duty ; 
his  corporal  was  sent  for  to  relieve  him,  and  he  returned 
to  his  post  after  dinner.  A  few  days  only  elapsed  before 
that  general  officer,  charmed  with  his  zeal,  made  him  his 
aid-de-camp.  In  1780  he  commanded  a  battalion  of  light 
infantry  under  Lafayette,  and  the  year  following  was 
made  aid -de -camp  to  General  Washington,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  the  peace.  In  1783  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Smith  was  appointed,  with  two  others,  to  superintend 
the  embarkation  of  the  British  troops  at  the  evacuation 
of  New  York.  His  correspondence  with  General  Wash 
ington  while  engaged  in  this  duty  is  preserved  in  "  New 
York  in  the  Revolution,"  printed  privately  in  1861.  In 
this  correspondence,  there  is  a  list  of  books  ordered  by 
General  Washington  through  Colonel  Smith,  which  gives 
us  an  insight  into  the  character  of  the  reading  which  the 
Commander-in-Chief  followed  at  this  time. 

[>79l 


J774- 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  when  John  Adams  was  ap 
pointed  Minister-Plenipotentiary  to  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith  became  his  Secretary 
of  Legation.  It  was  during  his  residence  in  that 
capacity  at  London  that  Mr.  Smith  became  the  son- 
in-law  of  Mr.  Adams  by  marriage  with  his  only  daugh 
ter. 

That  Mr.  Smith  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  General  Wash 
ington,  is  apparent  from  the  fact  that,  when,  in  the  year 
1798,  Washington  was  created  by  Congress  Lieutenant- 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  United  States 
Armies,  the  name  of  William  S.  Smith  was  immediately 
proposed  by  him  to  the  Secretary  of  War  as  a  brigadier- 
general,  or,  failing  that,  as  an  adjutant-general.  He  did 
not  obtain  either  of  these  appointments,  but  was  made  col 
onel,  and  afterwards,  surveyor  and  inspector  of  the  port 
of  New  York.  He  was  engaged  in  the  expedition  under 
General  Miranda,  upon  the  failure  of  which  he  retired 
to  the  interior  of  New  York  State,  from  whence  he  was 
sent  as  representative  to  Congress  in  1813.  He  died  in 
1816. 

Nicholas  Bayard  Van  Cortlandt  was  a  son  of 

John  and  Hester  Bayard  Van  Cortlandt,  of  New  York, 
and  a  grandson  of  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt,  of  Second 
River,  New  Jersey.  He  was  born  March  19,  1756,  and 
died  at  Parsipany,  New  Jersey,  May  i,  1782. 

John  Warford  received  his  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1776,  and  was  or 
dained  in  1777.  In  July,  1789,  he  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Salem,  New  York,  where  he 
preached  for  fourteen  years.  His  heart  was  enlisted  in 
the  cause  of  Christian  philanthropy  and  missionary  en 
terprise. 

Samuel  Whitwell  studied  medicine  and  entered 
the  Continental  Army  as  a  surgeon.  He  died  in  1791. 

[180] 


David  Witherspoon  was  a  son  of  President  Wither- 
spoon.  After  graduating,  he  studied  law,  and  emigrated 
to  North  Carolina,  where,  for  several  years,  he  was  a 
successful  practitioner  at  Newbern. 


1775- 

Charles  Clinton  Beatty  soon  ended  his  course. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Beatty,  that 
bright  light  in  the  early  Presbyterian  Church  of  this 
country.  Instead  of  entering  the  ministry  as  he  intend 
ed,  he  entered  the  army,  and  was  accidentally  shot  by  a 
brother  officer  in  October,  1776. 

John  Durburrow  Blair  was  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
John  Blair,  at  one  time  Vice-President  of  the  college. 
On  the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  he  was  ap 
pointed  in  1780,  Principal  of  Washington  Henry  Acade 
my  in  Virginia,  where  he  remained  for  a  number  of 
years. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1784,  he  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
a  church  in  Hanover  County,  Virginia,  where  Samuel 
Davies  formerly  preached  with  success.  About  1792, 
Mr.  Blair  was  induced  to  remove  to  Richmond  and  open 
a  classical  school.  At  the  same  time  he  began  to  gather 
a  church,  holding  his  services  in  the  capitol.  In  due 
course  of  time  a  building  was  erected  for  his  congrega 
tion.  But  increasing  infirmities  soon  brought  his  career 
to  a  close.  He  died  January  10,  1823. 

Mr.  Blair  was  highly  esteemed  in  the  community,  and 
became  intimate  with  the  most  enlightened  men  of  Rich 
mond,  among  whom  were  Judge  Marshall  and  Judge 
Washington.  Mr.  Blair  was  a  man  of  polished  manners 
and  fitted  to  adorn  any  company.  He  was  of  a  medium 
height  and  of  a  slender  figure,  but  had  a  great  delicacy 
of  person,  and  an  uncommonly  intellectual  expression  of 
countenance.  As  a  preacher  he  was  solid  and  orthodox. 

' 


J775- 

His  style  was  graceful  and  polished,  and  his  manner  of 
delivery  was  in  perfect  keeping  with  his  style.  His  voice 
was  soft  and  pleasant  and  fell  like  music  on  the  ear  of  his 
audience. 

Mr.  Blair  published  a  few  occasional  sermons  during  his  life,  and  after 
his  death  a  volume  of  his  sermons  was  published  under  the  direction  of  his 
successor  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Hoge. 

Ichabod  Burnet,  the  second  son  of  Dr.  William 
Burnet  of  the  class  of  1749,  joined  the  American  army 
from  New  Jersey.  In  1780,  he  was  an  aid  to  General 
Greene,  with  the  rank  of  Major,  and  was  stationed  at 
West  Point.  He  was  one  of  the  two  officers  designated 
by  General  Greene  to  communicate  to  Andre  the  sentence 
of  the  court,  and  to  attend  him  to  the  place  of  execution. 
He  died  in  1783. 

Thomas  B.  Craighead  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Alex 
ander  Craighead  of  Sugar  Creek,  North  Carolina.  He 
was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Orange  in  1780.  For 
a  few  months  he  preached  at  Sugar  Creek,  his  native 
place,  and  then  removed  to  Tennessee.  Here  he  was 
brought  to  trial  before  the  Presbytery  for  holding  cer 
tain  Pelagian  views;  and  the  controversy  which  arose, 
lasted  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Craighead  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Davidson 
Academy,  which  afterwards  became  Nashville  Univer 
sity.  It  originated  in  his  little  congregation,  six  miles 
east  of  Nashville,  and  Mr.  Craighead  became  the  first 
President,  which  position  he  held  for  two  years  and  three 
months. 

Mr.  Craighead  was  of  a  tall  but  spare  figure,  not  less 
than  six  feet  in  height ;  homely  and  hard  features,  with 
sandy  hair  and  a  large  clear  blue  eye.  His  health  was 
delicate  and  his  voice  was  weak  ;  his  manner  grave  and 
his  actions  natural,  but  not  vehement.  He  excelled  as 
an  extemporaneous  orator,  but  not  as  a  writer.  His  elo 
quence  was  of  that  fervid  kind  which  captivates  and  car- 
Ms  ] 


'775- 

ries  away  the  hearer  even  in  spite  of  himself.     He  died 
in  1825. 

Mr.  Craighead  published :  A  Sermon  on  Regeneration,  with  an  Address 
and  an  Appendix.  Letters  to  Rev.  J.  P.  Campbell,  occasioned  by  his  Let 
ters  to  the  Author,  containing  some  original  Disquisitions,  Philosophical, 
Moral  and  Religious,  Nashville,  iSn.  These  were  connected  with  his 
controversy  and  trial. 

The  Philosophy  of  the  Human  Mind,  in  respect  to  Religion,  1833.  Es 
says  and  Dialogues  on  the  Powers  and  Susceptibilities  of  the  Human  Mind 
for  Religion,  i2mo,  1834.  A  Defence  of  the  Elkhorn  Association  in  six 
teen  letters  to  Elder  Toler,  1822. 

Edward  Crawford  received  his  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  in  1777.  On  the  27th  of  Oc 
tober  in  the  same  year,  he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Sink 
ing  Spring  and  Spreading  Spring  Congregations,  Vir 
ginia.  Some  time  after  1786,  he  removed  to  Tennessee, 
and  took  charge  of  Glade  Spring  and  Rocky  Spring 
Churches,  where  he  remained  until  1803.  Mr.  Crawford 
was  one  of  the  original  Trustees  of  Washington  College, 
Tennessee. 

Samuel  Doak,  a  son  of  Samuel  Doak  and  Jane 
Mitchell,  was  born  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  in  Au 
gust,  1749.  After  graduating,  he  assisted  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Smith  in  his  school  at  Pequea,  Pennsylvania.  Shortly 
after  this,  he  became  tutor  in  Hampden  Sidney  College, 
and  pursued  his  theological  studies  under  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith, 
the  President,  and  aiterwards  with  Rev.  William  Gra 
ham  at  Timber  Ridge.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  October  31,  1777,  soon  after 
which  he  removed  to  Holston,  in  what  is  now  a  part  of 
East  Tennessee.  Here  he  was  in  the  midst  of  danger 
from  the  savages.  On  one  occasion  his  wife  was  apprised 
by  the  barking  of  the  dogs  that  the  Indians  were  near. 
Taking  her  infant  in  her  arms,  she  stealthily  fled  to  the 
woods,  and  from  her  hiding  place  she  saw  the  house  and 
all  that  it  contained  burned  by  the  Indians.  After  re 
siding  in  Holston  a  year  or  two,  Mr.  Doak  removed  to 

[184] 


'77S- 

Washington  County,  and  purchased  a  farm,  and  put  up  a 
small  church  edifice  and  a  building  of  logs  for  a  school. 
The  literary  institution  which  he  here  started,  was  the 
first  ever  established  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  In 
1785,  it  was  incorporated,  with  the  name  of  Martin 
Academy,  and  in  1795  it  became  Washington  College. 
From  its  incorporation  as  an  Academy  until  1818,  Mr. 
Doak  continued  to  preside  over  it,  and  the  elders  of  his 
congregation  formed  a  part  of  its  Board  of  Trustees. 

While  Mr.  Doak  was  attending  a  meeting  of  the  Gene 
ral  Assemby  in  Philadelphia,  he  received  a  donation  of 
books  for  his  college,  which  he  carried  in  a  sack  upon  a 
pack  horse  five  hundred  miles  through  forests  and  over 
mountains,  and  this  constituted  the  nucleus  of  the  library 
of  Washington  College. 

In  1818,  he  resigned  the  Presidency,  and  removed  to 
Bethel  in  the  same  State,  and  opened  a  private  school 
which  he  called  Tusculum,  which  has  since  under  his 
son,  grown  into  Tusculum  College. 

Mr.  Doak  was  also  successful  in  his  ministry.  Several 
powerful  revivals  occurred  in  connection  with  it ;  and 
many  churches  were  founded  by  him.  He  was  distin 
guished  for  his  talents  and  his  usefulness,  and  may  be 
considered  the  Apostle  of  Presbyterianism  in  Tennessee. 
His  style  of  preaching  was  original,  bold,  pungent,  and 
sometimes  pathetic.  He  died  October  6,  1820. 

John  Joline  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Mendham, 
New  Jersey,  in  May,  1778.  About  1796  he  resigned  his 
charge,  and  on  the  I3th  of  June,  1797,  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  Churches  at  Florida  and  Warwick,  Orange 
County,  New  York.  Mr.  Joline  was  regularly  dismissed 
from  this  charge,  but  he  probably  died  soon  after,  as  his 
grave  is  at  Florida,  but  without  a  monumental  stone  to 
record  the  date  of  his  death. 

Isaac  Stockton  Keith,  a  native  of  Pennslyvania,  was 

[185] 


'775- 

engaged  for  a  short  time  after  graduating  in  teaching  at 
Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey.  In  1778,  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  1780,  became 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Alexandria,  Vir 
ginia.  In  1788,  he  removed  to  Charleston,  South  Caro 
lina,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  of  an  Independent 
Church  in  that  city.  For  twenty-five  years  he  laboured 
here,  revered  and  beloved  by  all. 

Dr.  Keith  was  large  in  stature,  dignified  in  manner, 
grave  in  aspect  and  in  speech,  and  you  felt  that  you  were 
in  the  presence  of  no  ordinary  man.  He  held  a  high 
rank  as  a  preacher ;  his  discourses  were  well  elaborated 
and  his  applications  direct  and  pungent.  Mr.  Keith  re 
ceived  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
Philadelphia  College  in  1791.  He  died  December  13, 
1813. 

Dr.  Keith  published  about  half-a-dozen  sermons  during  his  life.  These, 
with  two  or  three  others,  together  also  with  the  sermon  occasioned  by  his 
death,  a  brief  biographical  notice  of  him,  and  a  somewhat  extended  selec 
tion  from  his  correspondence,  were  published  in  a  volume  in  the  year,  1816. 

Andrew  Kirkpatrick  was  descended  from  Scotch 
ancestors.  His  grandfather  came  to  this  country  in 
1736.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  at  Mine 
Brook,  New  Jersey,  February  17,  1756.  There  being  no 
railroads  nor  steamboats  in  those  days,  to  carry  young 
men  to  college,  young  Kirkpatrick  was  accustomed  to 
walk  to  and  fro  between  his  home  and  Princeton,  carry 
ing  his  little  knapsack  with  him.  Soon  after  graduating 
he  commenced  the  study  of  theology,  but  at  the  end  of  a 
few  months  he  relinquished  it  for  the  law,  as  being  more 
agreeable  to  his  tastes.  This  step  he  took,  knowing  that 
by  it  he  would  forfeit  his  father's  favour,  and  all  pecu 
niary  aid  from  him.  His  resolution  was  deliberately 
taken,  and  he  entered  upon  his  favorite  pursuit  relying 
for  subsistence  upon  his  own  extraordinary  and  unaided 
exertions.  Completing  his  legal  studies  in  the  office  of 
Judge  Paterson,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1785, 

[186] 


'775- 

and  commenced  practice  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey. 
While  living  here,  by  a  fire  in  1787,  he  lost  all  of  his 
law  books,  a  very  serious  loss  to  one  of  his  limited 
means.  Returning  to  New  Brunswick,  he  was  suc 
cessful  in  obtaining  a  considerable  practice,  and  was 
soon  enabled  to  replace  the  volumes  which  had  been 
destroyed. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick's  remarkable  success  in  his  profession 
was  the  result,  after  a  high  order  of  intellect,  of  the 
energy  of  his  character  and  the  most  persevering  indus 
try.  In  1797,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Assembly.  He  sat  with  this  body  during  the  first  ses 
sion,  but  on  the  I7th  of  January  he  resigned  his  seat, 
having  accepted  the  position  of  a  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court ;  six  years  later  he  was  advanced  to  the  office  of 
Chief-Justice.  He  was  twice  re-elected,  holding  the  high 
position  for  twenty-one  years. 

No  one  could  enter  the  court  in  which  he  sat  without 
being  struck  by  his  extraordinary  personal  presence. 
His  snow-white  hair,  his  clear,  florid  complexion,  his 
dark  lustrous  eye,  his  strong  but  delicately  chiselled 
features,  the  expression  of  gravity  and  firmness,  blended 
with  a  placid  sweetness  in  his  countenance,  his  imposing 
form,  and  the  graceful  dignity  with  which  he  discharged 
his  judicial  duties,  arrested  the  attention  of  all. 

Chief- Justice  Kirkpatrick  was  a  learned,  and  in  regard 
to  real  estate,  a  profoundly  learned  lawyer.  He  stood 
wit  M  Lit  a  superior  among  American  jurists.  His  mind 
was  not  rapid,  but  it  was  uncommonly  exact ;  and  the 
want  of  quickness  was  carefully  supplied  by  unwearying 
application  to  the  object  of  investigation.  He  passed 
the  last  few  years  of  his  life  retired  from  public  employ 
ment. 

Judge  Kirkpatrick  was  one  of  the  original  trustees  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  was  the  first 
President  of  the  Board,  holding  that  office  until  his  death. 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the  college  from  1807  to  the  time  of 
his  decease,  and  was  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the 


J775- 

Alumni  Association  founded  in  1826,  James  Madison  be 
ing  president. 

In  1813  Daniel  Webster,  at  that  time  on  a  visit  to  Rich 
ard  Stockton,  at  the  table  of  Samuel  Bayard,  Esq.,  who 
had  invited  him  to  meet  his  kinsman  Kirkpatrick,  and 
Ashbel  Green,  pronounced  the  Chief-Justice  and  the  col 
lege  President  to  be  two  of  the  most  remarkable  men  he 
had  ever  met. 

It  would  be  a  delightful  task,  if  space  permitted,  to  re 
late  the  charming  traits  of  this  great  man  in  his  social 
relations  and  his  grand  and  comprehensive  views  of  the 
Christian  system,  as  uttered  in  his  declining  years. 

He  died  in  the  parlour  of  his  own  house,  in  New  Bruns 
wick,  on  the  /th  of  January,  1831,  and  was  buried  in  the 
grave-yard  of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he 
was  for  many  years  a  Trustee,  and  where,  for  half  a  cen 
tury,  he  had  listened  to  the  Word  of  God. 

Charles  Lee  was  a  brother  of  Henry  Lee  of  the  class 
of  1773.  He  became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  in  1795  was 
appointed  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States,  to  suc 
ceed  William  Bradford.  Mr.  Lee  died  June  24,  1815. 

Spruce  Macay  came  to  college  from  North  Carolina. 
After  graduating,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Rowan 
County,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law.  In  1790 
he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Law 
and  Equity.  He  was  for  some  years  in  the  State  Legis 
lature. 

Mr.  Macay  died  in  1808. 

James  McBee  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  May  10, 
1752.  He  spent  the  first  year  after  graduating  as  tutor 
in  a  private  family  in  Virginia.  He  then  studied  theol 
ogy,  and  was  licensed  by  Concord  Presbytery  in  April, 
1778,  and  was  immediately  settled  as  pastor  of  Steel 
Creek  Congregation  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  re 
mained  about  twenty  years.  In  1798  he  left  Steel  Creek 

[188] 


J775- 

and  settled  as  pastor  of  Centre  Church,  and  continued  its 
pastor  about  thirty  years.  On  account  of  the  infirmities 
of  age,  he  was  at  last  compelled  to  cease  preaching.  Mr. 
McRee  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1810. 

In  person  Dr.  McRee  was  of  middling  stature,  hand 
somely  proportioned.  He  was  agreeable  in  his  manners, 
winning  in  conversation,  neat  in  dress,  dignified  in  the 
pulpit,  fluent  in  his  delivery,  and  was  a  most  popular 
preacher.  He  retained  his  influence  long  after  he  ceased 
active  work.  He  was  always  a  friend  of  education,  and 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  became  increasingly  anxious 
for  the  prosperity  of  academies,  colleges  and  theological 
seminaries,  being  deeply  convinced  that  the  welfare  of 
the  country  depended  upon  intelligence,  morality  and 
religion. 

Dr.  McRee  died  March  28,  1840. 

John  Montgomery  was  born  in  Augusta  County, 
Virginia.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Han 
over,  October  28,  1778,  and  was  for  a  time  tutor  in  Lib 
erty  Hall,  Virginia.  He  was  ordained  April  26,  1780, 
and  settled  as  pastor  of  Cedar  Creek  and  Opecquon 
Churches  in  Virginia.  After  spending  a  few  years  with 
these  congregations,  in  1789  he  removed  to  Augusta 
County.  Here  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr. 
Montgomery  was  a  very  popular  preacher,  a  good  scholar 
and  an  amiable  man.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  his 
ministry  was  interrupted  by  bodily  infirmities. 

John  Richardson  Bayard  Kodgers  was  a  son  of 

the  distinguished  clergyman,  Rev.  John  Rodgers,  of  New 
York.  He  received  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  in 
Edinburgh,  and  became  a  practitioner  of  medicine  in 
New  York  city,  and  was  for  many  years  the  leading  phy 
sician  in  the  city  and  a  professor  in  Columbia  College. 
He  was  distinguished  for  his  benevolence  and  high  Chris 
tian  character.  He  was  an  Elder  in  the  First  Presbyte- 

[  189] 


'775- 

rian  Church  for  a  long  time.  Dr.  Rodgers  was  the  father 
of  the  late  eminent  surgeon,  J.  Kearny  Rodgers,  of  New 
York,  and  of  the  Rev.  Ravaud  K.  Rodgers,  D.D.,  of 
New  Jersey.  He  died  in  1833. 

Archibald  Scott  was  a  lonely  emigrant  from  Scot 
land  to  Pennsylvania,  and  in  early  life  followed  the 
plough  for  a  livelihood.  He  received  his  early  education 
at  the  school  of  Mr.,  afterwards  President,  Finley.  After 
leaving  college  he  studied  theology  with  William  Gra 
ham,  supporting  himself  in  the  meantime  by  teaching. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  October 
31,  1777.  For  about  a  year  he  supplied  various  churches 
in  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  and  in  December,  1778,  was  or 
dained  and  installed  pastor  of  North  Mountain  and 
Brown's  meeting-house,  afterwards  called  Bethel.  He 
remained  here  for  more  than  twenty  years. 

During  the  Revolution  Mr.  Scott  and  his  congre 
gation  were  warm  patriots.  Captain  Tate  and  his 
company  were  from  this  congregation.  On  the  eve 
of  their  departure  to  the  field,  which  proved  to  be 
the  battle  of  the  Cowpens,  Dr.  Waddel  addressed  them, 
and  exhorted  them  to  patriotism  and  courage  and 
prompt  obedience  to  the  military  rules,  under  which 
they  now  came.  The  day  after  the  battle  of  Guil- 
ford,  news  was  brought  that  Tarlton  with  his  force  was 
approaching.  Mr.  Scott  was  at  the  time  hearing  a  class 
in  the  catechism.  This  he  hastily  dismissed,  and  went 
home  to  spread  the  alarm.  Mr.  Scott  was  sound  in  doc 
trine  and  very  tender  in  his  preaching.  His  useful 
ness  was  increasing  and  his  hold  on  his  people  growing 
stronger  and  stronger  till  the  day  of  his  death.  He  died 
March  4,  1799. 

John  Anderson  Scudder,  after  graduating,  studied 
medicine.  He  served  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  Leg 
islature  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  1810  was  appointed  to 
Congress  to  fill  an  unexpired  term. 

r  190] 


'775- 

John  Springer.  In  a  letter  which  Mr.  Springer 
wrote,  while  a  sophomore  in  college,  to  a  merchant  in 
London  who  had  taken  an  interest  in  him,  he  gives  an 
account  of  his  religious  experience,  and  a  brief  account 
of  the  college,  and  concludes,  "  May  the  same  hand  that 
has  reared  and  supported  this  institution,  continue  to 
bless  it  to  the  latest  ages,  and  to  make  it  a  continual  foun 
tain  from  whence  streams  may  issue  to  make  glad  the 
city  of  God." 

Mr.  Springer  was  a  native  of  Delaware.  After  gradu 
ating,  he  acted  as  tutor  in  the  college  ;  and  in  the  early 
part  of  the  Revolution  was  a  tutor  in  Hampden  Sidney 
College,  Virginia.  When  Virginia  became  the  seat  of 
war,  he  removed  to  North  Carolina  and  opened  an  acad 
emy,  and  from  thence  to  South  Carolina,  where  he  taught 
with  distinguished  success  at  White  Hall  and  Cam 
bridge.  On  the  1 8th  of  October,  1788,  he  was  licensed 
by  Orange  Presbytery,  and  supplied  various  churches 
until  July  21,  i/)O,  when  he  was  ordained  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  South  Carolina,  and  installed  pastor  of  a  Pres 
byterian  Church  at  Washington,  Georgia  ;  the  services 
taking  place  under  the  shade  of  a  tall  tree,  there  being 
no  church  edifice.  Mr.  Springer  was  the  first  Presby 
terian  minister  ordained  south  of  the  Savannah  river, 
and  the  first  minister  in  the  upper  part  of  Georgia.  Be 
sides  the  charge  of  his  church,  he  taught  an  academy,  at 
which  John  Forsyth,  of  the  class  of  1799,  was  fitted  for 
college.  Mr.  Springer  was  an  attractive  preacher,  and 
delivered  his  discourses,  which  were  unwritten,  with  un 
common  ease  and  elegance.  The  Lecture  and  Sermon 
which  were  parts  of  trial  before  Presbytery,  were  pub 
lished  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  in  1805,  with  a  short  Life 
prefixed.  He  died  September  30,  1798. 

Isaac  Tichenor  became  a  lawyer,  and  soon  rose  to 
eminence  in  Vermont.  In  1791  he  was  appointed  a  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  which  position  he  held 
until  1797,  being  at  that  time  the  Chief-Justice.  In  Oc- 

[  191] 


'775- 

tober  of  that  year,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
which  office  he  held  with  fidelity  for  eleven  years.  Mr. 
Tichenor  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States 
in  1796,  and  held  the  same  position  from  1815  to  1821. 
He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws 
from  Dartmouth  in  1789.  He  died  in  December,  1838. 

[192] 


1776. 

Nathaniel  Alexander  was  born  in  North  Carolina. 
On  his  return  to  his  native  State,  he  studied  medicine, 
but  the  war  coming  on,  he  relinquished  his  studies  and 
entered  the  army.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  his  profession.  In  1805  he  represented  the  State  in 
the  United  States  House  of  Representatives;  and  in 
1806  was  elected  Governor  of  North  Carolina.  In  all 
his  public  stations  he  discharged  his  duty  with  ability 
and  firmness.  He  died  March  8,  1808. 

William  Richardson  Davie  came  from  England 
when  quite  young.  He  joined  the  American  Army  while 
a  student  in  college,  but  returned  and  graduated  with 
his  class.  On  rejoining  the  army,  he  became  an  officer 
in  Pulaski's  Legion  of  Cavalry,  where,  by  his  talents  and 
zeal,  he  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  At  the  battle 
of  Stono  he  was  severely  wounded.  After  the  defeat  of 
General  Gates,  he  asked  the  Legislature  of  North  Caro 
lina  to  raise  a  troop  of  cavalry,  but  they  professing  them 
selves  to  be  too  poor,  he,  with  a  patriotism  worthy  of 
lasting  record,  disposed  of  every  cent  of  an  estate  be 
queathed  to  him  by  an  uncle,  and  equipped  the  troop 
with  the  proceeds.  Taking  command  of  the  regiment, 
he  was  in  all  the  battles  that  followed  in  the  Southern 
campaign.  He  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  General 
Greene,  who  appointed  him  a  Commissary  General. 

After  the  war  General  Davie  devoted  himself  to  the 
practice  of  the  law ;  and  if  his  career  in  arms  had  been 
brilliant,  his  success  at  the  Bar  more  than  eclipsed  his 
military  fame.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention 
that  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
*5  [193] 


1776. 

though  his  absence  prevented  his  name  being  affixed  to 
it.  In  1791  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  North 
Carolina.  In  1799  he  was  elected  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  but  was  soon  after  appointed  Envoy  to  France 
with  Ellsworth  and  Murray.  His  efforts  in  the  Legisla 
ture  in  behalf  of  education  deserve  to  be  preserved.  "  I 
was  present,"  says  Judge  Murphy,  "  in  the  House  of 
Commons  when  Davie  addressed  that  body,  asking  for 
a  loan  of  money  to  erect  the  buildings  of  the  University 
of  North  Carolina  ;  and  although  more  than  thirty  years 
have  elapsed,  I  have  the  most  vivid  recollection  of  the 
greatness  of  hfs  manner  and  the  power  of  his  eloquence 
upon  that  occasion.  His  eloquence  was  irresistible." 

In  1798  he  was  appointed  Brigadier -General  in  the 
North  Carolina  Militia,  and  prepared  a  System  of  Cav 
alry  Tactics,  which  was  printed  by  order  of  the  State. 
The  University  of  North  Carolina  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  in  1811.  General  Davie 
died  in  South  Carolina,  November  8,  1820. 

Jonathan  Dayton  was  a  son  of  General  Elias  Day 
ton,  of  New  Jersey.  In  1778  he  entered  the  American 
Army  as  Paymaster  ;  in  1779  accompanied  General  Sul 
livan  on  his  Western  Expedition,  and  in  1780  was  a  Cap 
tain  in  his  father'  s  regiment.  After  the  Peace,  he  was 
chosen  to  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  of  which  he 
was  Speaker  in  1790.  He  represented  his  native  State 
in  the  Convention,  1787,  for  the  formation  of  the  Federal 
Constitution,  and  in  1791  was  elected  to  Congress.  Thrice 
he  was  re-elected,  serving  four  terms  in  the  House,  of 
which  he  was  Speaker  from  1795  to  1799.  In  1799  ne 
was  chosen  Senator  of  the  United  States,  and  served 
until  1805.  He  was  appointed  by  President  Adams  a 
Brigadier -General,  with  the  privilege  of  retaining  his 
seat  in  the  Senate. 

General  Dayton  became  largely  interested  with  Symmes 
and  others  in  the  purchase  and  settlement  of  Western 
military  lands,  the  town  of  Dayton,  in  Ohio,  being  named 

['94] 


1776. 

in  compliment  to  him.  His  early  intimacy  in  boyhood 
with  Aaron  Burr,  and  his  later  association  with  him  in 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  led  him  to  look  with 
more  favour  than  prudence  would  have  dictated  upon 
the  schemes  of  that  aspiring  and  crafty  politician  ;  so 
that,  by  advancing  money  to  aid  Burr  in  his  adventures, 
he  became  compromised  with  him  in  the  charge  of  treas 
on.  The  indictment,  however,  was  not  tried,  and  Mr. 
Dayton's  bail  was  released.  This  unhappy  affair,  and  the 
breaking  up  of  the  Federal  party,  of  which  he  was  a 
leader,  put  an  end  to  Mr.  Dayton's  political  aspirations. 
He  was  subsequently  elected  repeatedly  to  the  Upper 
House  of  the  New  Jersey  Legislature,  and  held  several 
important  offices  in  his  native  town.  He  received  in 
1798,  from  his  Alma  Mater,  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Laws.  His  later  days  were  passed  at  home  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  comfortable  competence,  respected  and 
venerated  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  October  9, 
1824. 

Benjamin  Erwiii  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Hanover,  June  20,  1780,  and  settled  as  pastor  of  Mossy 
Creek  and  Cooks  Creek  Presbyterian  Churches,  Virginia. 
He  remained  in  this  charge  until  an  advanced  age,  when 
he  resigned. 

George  Faitoute  acted  as  a  tutor  in  the  college  for 
a  short  time  after  graduating.  He  received  his  license 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  about  1778,  and 
was  ordained  and  settled  at  Greenwich,  New  Jersey,  in 
1782.  In  1789  he  removed  to  Long  Island,  and  became 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Jamaica,  where  he 
died  suddenly  on  Sabbath,  August  21,  1815,  having 
preached  with  his  usual  vigor  in  the  morning.  Mr. 
Faitoute  was  an  amiable,  pious  man. 

John  Evans  Finley,  a  nephew  of  President  Finley, 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  New  Castle  Presbytery  about 

[195] 


1776. 

1 780,  and   was   settled   at  Faggs  Manor,   Pennsylvania. 
About  the  year  1795  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  be 
came   pastor  of  the   Presbyterian    Church  at  Bracken, 
Mason  County,  where  he  exercised  his  ministry  during 
the  great  revival  in  the  West. 

Joseph  Washington  Henderson  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  sometime  between  1778  and 

1781,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Great    Connewago,    Pennsylvania,    where    he   remained 
until   1797.     From   1799  to   1824  he   was   pastor   of  the 
Churches  of  Bethlehem  and  Ebenezer  in  Western  Penn 
sylvania. 

John  Wilkes  Kittera  lived  and  practiced  law  in 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  He  represented  Pennsylvania 
in  Congress  from  1791  to  1801,  when  he  was  appointed 
United  States  District  Attorney  for  the  Eastern  District 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Henry  Philip  Livingston  was  the  youngest  son 
of  Philip  Livingston,  the  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  a  brother  of  Philip  Phills  Livingston 
of  the  class  of  1758.  Immediately  after  graduating,  he 
entered  the  American  Army,  and  became  an  officer  in  the 
celebrated  Body  Guard  of  General  Washington.  An 
estimate  of  his  character  may  be  formed  by  an  extract 
from  a  letter  written  to  his  brother-in-law  announcing 
the  death  of  his  father.  The  letter  is  dated  Yorkville, 
June  14,  1778,  and  was  written  when  he  was  but  eighteen 
years  old  :  "  I  sincerely  lament,"  he  writes,  "  that  Pro 
vidence  has  made  it  necessary  to  address  my  friends  on 
so  mournful  an  occasion  as  the  present.  Oh  !  for  words 
to  soften  their  distress  and  lessen  the  bitter  pangs  of 
grief!  I  feel  myself  unequal  to  the  duty,  and  utterly  at 
a  loss  what  to  say.  My  dear  friend  !  have  you  received 
my  letter  of  the  i  ith  ?  written  with  intent  to  prepare  the 
minds  of  the  family  for  the  melancholy  subject  of  this, 

[196] 


1776. 

and  to  prevent,  in  some  measure,  the  effects  of  a  too  sud 
den  impression.  Unhappily,  my  apprehensions  were  not 
ill  founded,  for  the  disorder  was  too  malignant  and  obsti 
nate  to  struggle  with. 

"  Must  I  tell  you  !  my  dear  father  expired  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  I2th,  and  was  buried  the  same  evening. 
.  .  .  .  My  dear  mother  and  sister  !  grieve  not  immo 
derately,  even  at  the  loss  of  an  excellent  husband  and 
parent !  Consider  that  worth  and  excellence  cannot  ex 
empt  one  from  the  lot  of  human  nature,  for  no  sooner  do 
we  enter  the  world  than  we  begin  to  leave  it.  It  is  not 
only  natural,  but  commendable  to  regret  the  loss  of  so 
tender  a  connection,  but  what  can  an  excess  of  sorrow 
avail  ?" 

Cyrus  Pierson,  a  son  of  Deacon  John  Pierson,  of 
South  Orange,  New  Jersey,  after  leaving  college  studied 
medicine,  and  became  a  highly  respectable  practitioner  in 
Newark,  where  he  died,  October,  1804.  Dr.  McWhorter's 
old  book  of  funerals  and  marriages  testifies,  that  at  the 
funeral  of  Dr.  Pierson  he  "  received  a  scarf  but  no  gloves." 

John  Piiitard  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law, 
but  never  practiced.  During  the  Revolution  he  joined 
a  company  commanded  by  a  professor  of  the  college, 
and  afterwards  acted  for  three  years  as  clerk  to  his  uncle, 
Lewis  Pintard,  commissioner  for  American  prisoners  in 
New  York  City.  For  a  short  time  he  was  editor  of  the 
New  York  Commercial  Advertiser,  and  afterwards  became 
eminent  as  a  merchant.  Mr.  Pintard  was  the  chief  founder 
of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  and  was  the  zealous 
promoter  of  other  useful  institutions.  He  was  an  intel 
ligent  antiquary,  and  author  of  a  number  of  papers  in 
periodicals  of  the  day. 

He  died  in  1844. 

Among  the  best  known  of  his  productions,  are  an  Account  of  the  City  of 
New  Orleans,  published  in  New  York  in  the  Medical  Repository ;  and  a 
Notice  of  Philip  Freneau  in  the  New  York  Mirror  for  June  12,  1833. 

[  -97] 


1776. 

Joseph  Rue,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1784,  and 
was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Pennington,  New  Jersey.  Here  he  remained  a  faithful 
pastor  for  forty-one  years.  He  died  in  1826. 

John  Rutherford  was  born  in  New  York  City,  and 
was  a  nephew  of  William  Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling. 
He  became  a  lawyer.  From  1791  to  1798  he  represented 
New  York  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  was  the  last 
survivor  of  the  senators  during  the  administration  of 
Washington.  He  early  retired  from  public  life,  and  re 
sided  upon  his  large  landed  estate  in  New  Jersey  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  23,  1840. 

Nathaniel  Welshard  Sample  came  to  Princeton 
from  Pennsylvania.  He  was  licensed  by  the  New  Castle 
Presbytery  in  1799.  Having  supplied  a  church  at  St. 
Georges,  Delaware,  for  six  months,  and  declining  their 
call  to  settle,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Leacock,  Lancaster, 
and  Middle  Octorara  Churches  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
relation  to  these  churches  continued  forty  years.  He 
was  released  from  his  charge  September  26,  1821,  and 
died  August  26,  1834. 

Samuel  Shannon  received  his  license  to  preach 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  October  25,  1781,  and 
in  1784  was  ordained  and  settled  as  pastor  of  Windy 
Cove  and  Blue  Spring  Congregations  in  Virginia.  About 
1788  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  became  pastor  of 
Bethel  and  Sinking  Spring  Presbyterian  Churches,  where 
he  preached  four  years.  He  then  took  charge  of  Wood- 
ford  Church,  of  which  he  continued  pastor  until  1806. 

In  the  war  of  1812,  Mr.  Shannon  volunteered  to  ac 
company  the  Northern  Army  as  a  chaplain.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  physical  strength.  His  fist  was  like  a 
sledge-hammer,  and  he  is  said  to  have  lopped  off  a  stout 
bough  at  a  single  stroke  of  his  sword  when  charging 

[  198] 


1776. 

through  the  woods.  Notwithstanding  his  strength,  he 
was  one  of  the  best-natured  men  in  the  world,  and  noth 
ing  could  provoke  or  ruffle  him.  To  a  rough,  awkward, 
slovenly  appearance,  was  added  a  slow  and  stammering 
utterance.  He  laboured  indefatigably,  but  had  no  anima 
tion.  The  latter  years  of  his  life  were  employed  in  mis 
sionary  labours,  chiefly  in  the  destitute  regions  of  Indiana. 
He  died  in  the  summer  of  1822. 

Benjamin  Parker  Snowdeii,  the  first  of  five 
brothers  who  graduated  at  Princeton,  was  the  son  of 
Isaac  Snowden,  of  Philadelphia,  for  a  number  of  years  a 
Trustee  of  the  College.  The  son,  after  leaving  college, 
studied  medicine,  and  was  lost  at  sea. 

Nehemiah  Wade  was  admitted  as  an  Attorney  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the  September 
Term,  1784.  He  lived  and  died  in  Elizabethtown,  New 
Jersey. 

[  199] 


1777- 

James  Ashton  Bayard  was  the  eldest  son  of  that 
distinguished  friend  of  his  country,  Colonel  John  Bayard, 
of  Philadelphia.  He  was  born  in  1760,  and  therefore 
graduated  at  the  early  age  of  seventeen.  Mr.  Bayard 
married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Rodgers,  of  New 
York.  There  is  an  interesting  incident  related  of  him 
by  his  sister.  Owing  to  the  progress  of  the  war,  the 
College  at  Princeton  was  vacated.  Dr.  Witherspoon 
was  in  Congress,  and  the  other  officers  and  students 
were  dispersed.  Mr.  Bayard,  among  the  others,  had  to 
return  home.  He  procured  a  horse,  and  took,  what  he 
supposed,  the  safest  road  to  avoid  the  enemy.  Unfortu 
nately  he  fell  in  with  a  party  of  marauders,  who  seized 
him,  and  inquired  his  name.  When  he  told  them,  they 
immediately  pronounced  him  a  rebel.  They  then  pin 
ioned  his  arms  and  carried  him  to  Philadelphia,  and  com 
mitted  him  to  prison,  where  a  fearful  doom  awaited  him. 
His  mother  hearing  the  sad  news,  obtained  a  safe  conduct, 
and  made  application  to  the  commanding  officer,  and  was 
successful  in  securing  the  release  of  her  son.  Several 
years  after  he  pointed  out  to  his  sister  the  place  where 
he  stood  when  the  order  for  his  release  came  ;  it  was  a 
gate  by  the  roadside  ;  the  halter  was  round  his  neck,  and 
he  was  awaiting  the  moment  of  execution.  Mr.  Bayard 
died  in  1788. 

James  Crawford  graduated  in  perilous  times,  and, 
on  account  of  the  proximity  of  the  British  army,  failed 
to  get  his  degree  at  the  proper  time,  but  received  it  after 
wards.  A  curious  trait  of  the  times  is  seen  in  the  certifi 
cate  of  church  membership  which  his  pastor,  the  Rev. 

[   200] 


1777- 

John  Craighead,  gave  him  the  year  of  his  graduation  ;  to 
the  usual  certificate  was  added  these,  words:  "  And  also 
he  appears  well  affected  to  the  cause  of  American  liber 
ty  !"  When  we  bear  in  mind  the  probability,  from  the 
date,  that  this  was  furnished  as  a  part  of  the  credentials 
necessary  for  his  reception  by  the  Presbytery  as  a  candi 
date,  it  gives  us  insight  into  the  political  preferences  of 
the  Presbyterian  clergy.  Warm  patriots  themselves,  it 
doubtless  constituted  a  strong  recommendation  for  a 
candidate  to  entertain  similar  sentiments.  In  1779  Mr. 
Crawford  was  licensed  by  Hanover  Presbytery,  and  in 
1784  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  at 
Walnut  Hill,  and  gathered  and  organized  a  flourishing 
church.  He  remained  here  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  in  1803.  Mr.  Crawford  was  a  plain-looking  man  of 
very  grave  demeanour ;  not  a  popular  preacher,  but 
highly  useful  and  instructive. 

John  Young  Noel  read  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon. 
William  Paterson,  of  the  class  of  1763,  and  was  admitted 
as  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at 
the  April  Term,  1783;  and  as  a  Counsellor  at  the  May 
term,  1786.  Mr.  Noel  removed  soon  after  to  the  State 
of  Georgia,  and  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers 
in  the  South.  Many  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in 
Georgia  studied  law  in  his  office,  among  whom  were  Gov 
ernor  Troup  and  Governor  Forsyth,  both  graduates  of 
Princeton.  Mr.  Noel  died  in  Augusta,  Georgia. 


1778.  !i    ;';:'";/::. 

William  Boyd  was  a  native  of  Franklin  County, 
Pennsylvania.  On  leaving  college  he  engaged  for  a  few 
years  in  teaching,  first  an  academy  in  Annapolis,  Mary 
land,  and  then  a  school  near  Baltimore.  In  1783  he  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal.  In  1784  he  be 
came  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Lamington, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  till  the  close  of  life.  In 
1800  he  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  which  office  he  held  while  he  lived.  Mr.  Boyd 
was  a  man  of  great  dignity  and  gravity.  His  mind  was 
cast  in  a  superior  mould.  He  had  a  vein  of  keen  wit, 
which  he  brought  into  exercise  on  suitable  occasions,  but 
never  in  a  way  to  disparage  his  ministerial  character. 
He  was  distinguished  for  uncommon  knowledge  of  the 
Scriptures.  He  never  used  notes  in  the  pulpit,  but  his 
thoughts  were  always  well  matured.  His  manner  was 
animated  and  earnest,  and  well  fitted  to  secure  attention. 
He  died  May  17,  1807. 

Jacob  Morton  studied  law  and  was  admitted  an  At 
torney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  Sep 
tember  term,  1782.  He  removed  soon  after  to  the  city 
of  New  York,  where  he  became  prominent  at  the  Bar. 
In  1797  he  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Jay,  Justice  of 
the  Peace  in  a  new  court  just  established  by  the  Legisla 
ture.  The  governor  selected  several  of  the  most  prom 
ising  young  lawyers  for  these  positions.  John  Wells,  of 
the  class  of  1788,  was  an  associate  of  Mr.  Morton  on  the 
Bench.  From  1807  to  1808  he  was  Comptroller  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  During  the  war  of  1812  Mr.  Morton 
was  quite  prominent,  and  became  a  general  of  militia. 


1773. 

He  never  returned  to  the  active  pursuit  of  his  profession, 
but  was  for  twenty  years  the  Clerk  of  the  Common  Coun 
cil  of  New  York  City.  Mr.  Morton  died  in  1837. 

Joseph  Scudder  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Scudder, 
of  the  class  of  1751,  and  the  father  of  the  distinguished 
missionary,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Scudder.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  in  No 
vember,  1786,  and  practiced  law  in  New  Brunswick  and 
in  Freehold,  New  Jersey.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was 
the  Clerk  of  Monmouth  County. 

Peter  Wilson  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  about  1785,  and  was  settled  as  pastor 
of  Hackettstown  and  Mansfield  Presbyterian  Churches, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  July 
24,  1799. 

Matthew  Woods  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Donegal  about  1783,  and  died  September  13,  1784. 
Whether  Mr.  Woods  was  a  pastor  during  the  few  months 
that  intervened  between  his  ordination  and  his  death,  I 
have  not  discovered. 

[2OJ] 


1779- 

Andrew  Bayard  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Bayard, 
and  a  brother  of  James  Ashton  Bayard  of  the  class  of 
1777.  He  became  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia,  and  was 
for  many  years  the  President  of  the  Commercial  Bank  in 
that  city.  In  1808  Mr.  Bayard  was  elected  a  Trustee  of 
the  College,  and  served  in  that  position  until  1823.  He 
died  in  1832. 

Matthew  McCallister,  although  a  native  of  Penn 
sylvania,  entered  the  profession  of  the  law  and  began  the 
practice  in  the  State  of  Georgia  about  1783.  He  soon 
became  distinguished  for  the  fidelity  with  which  he  dis 
charged  the  many  public  and  private  duties  which  de 
volved  upon  him.  From  May  25,  1801,  to  May  26,  1802, 
he  was  Judge  of  the  Superior  Courts  of  the  Eastern  Dis 
trict  of  Georgia.  He  died  May  9,  1823,  deeply  regretted 
by  all  who  knew  him. 

George  Merchant,  after  graduating,  became  an  emi 
nent  classical  teacher. 

James  Kiddle,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  served  as  a 
tutor  in  college  for  two  years  after  graduating.  He  be 
came  a  lawyer,  and  attained  some  eminence.  He  was  for 
a  long  time  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Errors  and  Ap 
peals  of  Pennsylvania.  Judge  Riddle  was  a  man  of  learn 
ing  and  worth.  He  died  February  5,  1837. 

Richard  Stockton  was  a  son  of  Richard  Stockton 
of  the  class  of  1748.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  and  soon  became  distinguished  for  his 


i779- 

legal  ability.  From  1796  to  1799  he  represented  New 
Jersey  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  from  1813  to  1815 
was  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  eminently 
distinguished  for  his  talents ;  was  an  eloquent  and  pro 
found  lawyer,  and  during  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  cen 
tury  was  at  the  head  of  the  New  Jersey  Bar.  He  re 
ceived  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Co 
lumbia  College  in  1815,  and  from  Union  College  in  1816. 
He  was  for  thirty-seven  years  a  Trustee  of  the  College. 
He  died  in  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  March  7,  1828.  Mr. 
Stockton  was  the  father  of  the  late  Commodore  Robert 
F.  Stockton,  and  the  grandfather  of  the  Hon.  John  P. 
Stockton  of  the  United  States  Senate. 

Aaron  Dickinson  Woodruff,  the  eldest  son  of 
Elias  and  Mary  J.  Woodruff,  was  born  at  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey,  September  12,  1762.  fie  was  the  Valedicto 
rian  of  his  class.  Mr.  Woodruff  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
in  1784.  In  1793  he  was  elected  Attorney-General  of  the 
State,  and  was  annually  re-elected,  except  in  1811,  until 
his  death.  He  also  served  in  the  Legislature.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  trustee  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Trenton.  The  epitaph  upon  Mr.  Woodruff's  tomb  de 
scribes  well  his  character :  "  For  twenty-four  years  he  fill 
ed  the  important  station  of  Attorney-General  with  incor 
ruptible  integrity.  Adverse  to  legal  subtleties,  his  pro 
fessional  knowledge  was  exerted  in  the  cause  of  truth  and 
justice.  The  native  benevolence  of  his  heart  made  him 
a  patron  of  the  poor,  a  defender  of  the  fatherless  ;  it  ex 
ulted  in  the  joys,  or  participated  in  the  sorrows,  of  his 
friends." 


1780. 

Ebenezer  Stockton,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  stud 
ied  medicine  and  entered  the  army  as  a  surgeon.  After 
the  war  he  practiced  for  many  years  in  Princeton.  He 
was  a  man  of  professional  skill,  and  was  highly  esteemed 
by  the  whole  community  during  a  long  life.  Towards 
the  close  of  his  life,  he  gave  up  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion  on  account  of  bodily  infirmity.  Dr.  Stockton  died 

in  1837. 

• 

Samuel  W.  Venable  fought  bravely  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  war.  After  leaving  college  he  expected  to  study 
law,  but  was  led  by  some  circumstances  to  engage  in 
merchandise,  which  he  carried  on  largely  in  Prince  Ed 
ward  County,  Virginia. 

Mr.  Venable  was  a  man  of  clear  head  and  sound  judg 
ment,  and  had  made  observations  on  the  characters  of 
men  as  they  passed  before  him  ;  and  these  observations 
he  reduced  to  maxims.  He  was  one  of  the  main  found 
ers  of  Hampden  Sidney  College.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexan 
der  was  accustomed  to  speak  of  him  as  the  most  remark 
able  instance  of  wisdom  matured  by  experience  and 
observation,  that  he  had  ever  known  ;  in  which  respect 
he  was  fond  of  comparing  him  to  Franklin. 

When  about  fifty  years  of  age,  Mr.  Venable  relinquished 
active  business,  hoping  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  in  a 
course  of  reading  and  study ;  but  he  soon  fell  into  a  hy 
pochondriac  state,  fancying  that  his  lungs  were  seriously 
affected,  and  the  opinions  of  his  friends  and  physicians 
could  not  convince  him  of  his  error.  Colonel  Venable 
died  suddenly  at  the  Virginia  Springs  in  1825. 

[206] 


1780. 

Abraham  B.  Venable,  a  brother  of  the  preceding, 
also  became  distinguished  for  his  patriotic  ardour  on  the 
field  of  battle.  He  represented  Virginia  in  Congress 
from  1791  to  1799;  and  from  1803  to  1804  he  was  in  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States.  He  perished  in  the  burn 
ing  of  the  Richmond  theatre,  December  26,  1811. 

[207] 


Joseph  Clark  was  from  Elizabethtown,  New  Jer 
sey.  When  the  British  entered  the  State,  he  left  college 
and  joined  the  American  Army.  He  continued  several 
years  in  the  service  of  his  country,  rendered  important 
aid  in  the  Revolutionary  contest,  and  received  attentions 
from  distinguished  military  characters,  very  flattering  to 
a  youth  of  his  age.  On  leaving  the  army  he  returned  to 
Princeton  and  received  his  degree. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1783,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  commenced  preaching  at 
Allentown,  New  Jersey,  but  was  not  installed  as  pastor 
until  June,  1788. 

In  1796,  he  removed  to  New  Brunswick  as  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.  In  1802,  he  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  College, 
and  remained  in  office  till  his  death.  In  1809,  he  re 
ceived  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Jefferson 
College. 

Dr.  Clark's  health  was  always  feeble,  but  notwith 
standing,  he  was  one  of  the  most  active  ministers  of  the 
day.  He  possessed  a  mind  of  a  high  order,  enlarged  and 
cultivated  by  much  study.  In  the  pulpit  he  was  solemn 
and  dignified ;  his  discourses  solid  and  judicious.  He 
possessed  extraordinary  colloquial  powers  and  a  strong 
relish  for  cultivated  society.  In  details  of  business,  few 
men  probably  have  surpassed  him.  In  person,  he  was  of 
full  medium  stature,  but  slender ;  his  eyes  sharp  and 
blue  ;  his  hair  light  and  not  very  abundant.  His  mem 
ory  well  deserves  to  be  honoured  and  embalmed.  He 
died  October  19,  1813. 

Dr.  Clark's  only  publications  were  ;  A  Sermon  occasioned  by  the  death 

[208] 


1781. 

of  the  Hon.  William  Paterson,  1806.    Two  Discourses  in  the  New  Jersey 
Preacher,  1813. 

William  Crawford  served  in  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  of  the  United  States,  from  Pennsylvania,  from 
1809  to  1817.  He  died  in  1823. 

William  Branch  Giles  entered  Congress  from 
Virginia  as  early  as  1796,  where  he  remained  for  many 
years.  In  1811,  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  but  resigned  his  seat  in  1815.  In  1826,  he  was 
elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  continued  in  office 
three  years.  He  died  December  8,  1830. 

Governor  Giles  published:  A  Speech  on  the  Embargo  Laws,  1808.  Po 
litical  Letters  to  the  people  of  Virginia,  1813.  A  Series  of  Letters,  signed 
"A  Constituent,"  in  the  Richmond  Enquirer,  January,  1818,  against  the  plan 
for  general  education.  And  a  number  of  Letters  on  Public  Affairs. 

Edward  Livingston  was  a  brother  of  Robert  R. 
Livingston,  thre  Chancellor  of  New  York,  and  was  re 
lated  to  the  family  of  Governor  Livingston  of  New  Jer 
sey.  He  was  born  at  Claremont,  Livingston  Manor, 
New  York,  in  1764.  After  graduating,  he  studied  law 
with  his  brother  the  Chancellor,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  1785.  He  pursued  his  profession  in  New  York 
City  until  1794,  when  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  and 
held  the  seat  until  1802.  Returning  to  New  York,  he  was 
appointed  by  Jefferson  United  States  District  Attorney, 
being  at  the  same  time  Mayor  of  the  city.  In  1804,  Mr. 
Livingston  removed  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  imme 
diately  became  conspicuous  at  that  Bar.  At  the  invasion 
of  Louisiana,  he  acted  as  aid  to  General  Jackson.  In 
1823,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  and  in  1829  was  transferred  to  the  United 
States  Senate.  In  1831,  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of 
State,  and  in  1833,  Minister  to  France. 

Mr.  Livingston  was  employed,  with  others,  by  the 
Legislature  of  Louisiana,  to  prepare  a  system  of  Juris 
prudence,  and  also  of  Municipal  law,  and  performed  the 
14  [  209  ] 


1781. 

service  with  great  industry  and  deep  research.  His 
Penal  Code,  his  own  unaided  work,  is  a  monument  of  his 
profound  learning,  and  his  desire  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  mankind.  Mr.  Livingston  died  in  1836. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Livingston  are  :  Judicial  Opinions  delivered 
in  the  Mayor's  Court  in  the  City  of  New  York,  1802.  The  Batture  Case  at 
New  Orleans,  8vo,  1808.  The  Batture  Case  ;  in  answer  to  President  Jeffer 
son's  pamphlet  of  1812-1814.  Reports  made  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Louisiana,  of  the  Plan  of  the  Penal  Code  of  said  State,  8vo, 
1822.  (This  was  reprinted  in  London  and  Paris.)  A  System  of  Penal 
Law  for  the  State  of  Louisiana,  1826. 

[2,0] 


1782. 

Conrad  Elmendorf  was  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  from  New  York  from  1797  to  1803  ; 
and  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly  during  1804, 
1805  ;  and  a  State  Senator  from  1814  to  1817. 

John  A.  Hanna  came  to  college  from  Pennsylvania. 
After  his  graduation  he  resided  at  Harrisburg,  and  from 
1792  to  1805  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Hanna  died  in 

1805. 

William  Mahon  received  a  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  about  1790.  He  presided  at 
the  meeting  of  Presbytery  at  which  Dr.  Archibald  Alex 
ander  was  ordained  in  1794.  In  1796  he  removed  to 
Kentucky,  and  became  pastor  of  New  Providence  Church 
in  Transylvania  Presbytery,  but  was  brought  before  Pres 
bytery  on  various  charges,  and  admonished  to  maintain 
a  stricter  guard  over  his  temper.  The  people  being  dis 
satisfied  with  him,  the  connection  was  dissolved  by  Pres 
bytery,  October  5,  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Mahon  was 
finally  deposed  for  drunkenness  in  1804.  He  applied  in 
1812  to  be  restored  ;  but  the  Presbytery,  not  being  satis 
fied  of  his  reformation,  refused  his  request. 

Robert  Pearson  studied  law  after  his  graduation, 
and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
New  Jersey  at  the  April  Term,  1789 ;  and  as  a  Counsellor 
at  the  May  Term,  1794.  He  practiced  in  Gloucester 
County,  New  Jersey. 


1782. 

Richard  N.  Venable,  a  brother  of  Abraham  B.  and 
Samuel  W.  Venable  of  the  class  of  1780,  studied  law,  and 
practiced  in  Prince  Edward  County,  Virginia,  where  he 
died  in  1805. 

Samuel  Wilson  received  a  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  and  became  pastor  of 
Big  Spring  Presbyterian  Church,  Pennsylvania,  about 
1788.  He  remained  in  this  charge  until  his  death  in 
1799. 

[212] 


1783. 

Timothy  Ford  was  the  eldest  son  of  Colonel  Jacob 
Ford,  Jr.,  of  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  and  brother  of 
Gabriel  Ford  of  the  class  of  1784,  and  Jacob  Ford  of  the 
class  of  1792.  His  father  died  in  1777,  and  he  was  reared 
by  his  mother,  at  whose  house  Washington  had  his  head 
quarters,  while  the  army  was  at  Morristown. 

Ashbel  Green  was  born  at  Hanover,  New  Jersey, 
July  6,  1762.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Green, 
who  was  for  forty-five  years  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Hanover.  When  only  sixteen  years  old,  Mr. 
Green  entered  the  army  as  a  private,  and  rose  to  be  ser 
geant  of  his  company.  On  one  occasion,  after  a  ren 
contre  with  a  party  of  British  troops,  his  captain  said  to 
his  company,  "  I  think  you  might  get  a  shot  at  those  men 
in  the  boats!  Who  of  you  will  try?"  "I  will,"  was 
Green's  immediate  answer ;  and  although  only  one  other 
man  would  accompany  him,  he  was  as  good  as  his  word. 
He  was  also  present  with  the  American  troops  who  pur 
sued  the  British  after  they  had  burned  the  village  of  Con 
necticut  Farms,  and  murdered  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  James 
Caldwell.  At  this  time  Mr.  Green  was  the  teacher  of  a 
classical  school ;  and  on  both  the  above  occasions  he  dis 
missed  his  school  to  rally  with  others  around  the  stand 
ard  of  his  country. 

The  Commencement  at  which  Mr.  Green  graduated, 
was  a  memorable  one.  Congress  had  been  driven 
by  a  disorderly  corps  of  soldiers  from  Philadelphia, 
and  had  adjourned  to  Princeton.  They  held  their 
sessions  in  the  library  of  the  college.  Dr.  Boudinot, 
a  trustee  of  the  college,  was  then  President  of  Con- 

[213] 


1783- 

gress,  and  General  Washington  was  in  attendance,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer  and  beginning  of  autumn,  for 
the  final  disbanding  of  the  army. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Commencement,  Congress,  as  a 
compliment  to  the  college,  and  their  own  president,  as 
well  as  to  the  president  of  the  college,  who  had  recently 
been  one  of  their  own  members,  determined  to  adjourn 
and  attend  the  exercises  of  the  day.  A  large  stage  was 
erected,  on  which  were  seated  all  the  members  of  Con 
gress,  two  foreign  ministers  and  General  Washington. 
At  the  close  of  the  valedictory  oration,  which  had  been 
assigned  to  Mr.  Green,  he  had  an  address  of  some  length 
to  the  General.  Let  me  give  the  words  of  Dr.  Green  : 
"  The  General  colored  as  I  addressed  him,  but  his  mod 
esty  was  among  the  qualities  which  so  highly  distinguish 
ed  him.  The  next  day,  as  he  was  going  to  attend  a  Commit 
tee  of  Congress,  he  met  me  in  one  of  the  long  entries  of 
the  college  edifice,  stopped,  and  took  me  by  the  hand,  and 
complimented  me  on  my  address  in  language  which 
I  should  lack  his  modesty  if  I  repeated  it  even  to  you." 

Mr.  Green  held  the  office  of  tutor  in  the  college  for 
two  years,  and  was  then  appointed  to  the  Chair  of  Mathe 
matics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  which  he  retained  for  a 
year  and  a  half.  In  February,  1786,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  In  May, 
1787,  he  was  settled  as  colleague  of  Rev.  Dr.  Sproat,  in 
Philadelphia ;  and  the  same  year  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  In  1792  the 
University  of  Pennslyvania  conferred  upon  him  the  de 
gree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity ;  and  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  Chaplain  to  Congress,  and  was  re-elected  by 
every  successive  Congress  till  the  removal  to  Washing 
ton.  Dr.  Green  was  one  of  the  chief  instruments  in 
founding  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  In 
August,  1812,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  College; 
and  in  the  same  year  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  Dr.  Green 
occupied  the  Presidential  Chair  until  1822,  when,  on  ac- 


1783- 

count  of  increasing  infirmity,  he  resigned.  He  imme 
diately  took  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia,  and  became 
the  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate,  a  monthly  religious 
magazine.  The  work  was  continued  through  twelve  vol 
umes,  in  which  the  editor  displayed  the  fertility  of  his 
active,  well-disciplined  mind,  the  extent  of  his  learning, 
the  acuteness  of  his  critical  powers,  and  his  devotion  to 
the  interests  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

The  last  regular  sermon  preached  by  this  venerable 
man  was  in  the  African  Church  at  Princeton,  July  16, 
1843,  in  ms  eighty-second  year.  He  died  on  the  I4th  of 
May,  1848. 

Dr.  Green  in  person  was  of  a  medium  height,  but  port 
ly,  having  features  well  formed  ;  a  florid  complexion,  en 
livened  with  dark  brilliant  eyes.  He  was  in  his  youth 
handsome.  His  intellectual  powers  were  of  a  high  order. 
He  was  characterized  by  much  firmness  and  decision. 
He  rejoiced  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  his  discourses 
were  uniformly  written.  Dr.  Carnahan,  his  immediate 
successor,  said  of  him :  "  He  was  by  his  talents  fitted  to 
fill  any  station ;  and  by  his  eloquence  to  adorn  the  walls 
of  our  National  Legislature."  Dr.  Green's  publications 
are  numerous. 

He  superintended  an  edition  of  Witherspoon's  works,  1802,  and  left  in 
manuscript  a  biography  of  that  eminent  man. 

In  1822,  he  published  a  History  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  con 
nexion  with  a  Series  of  Baccalaureate  Discourses.  A  History  of  Presbyte 
rian  Missions.  A  Sermon  at  the  funeral  of  the  Rev.  George  Duffield,  D.D., 
1790.  The  Address  and  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Clergy  of  Philadelphia, 
to  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
relative  to  Theatrical  Amusements,  1793.  A  Sermon  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sproat,  1793.  Obedience  to  the  Laws  of  God  ;  a  Fast 
Sermon,  1798.  An  Address  of  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
1802.  A  Discourse  at  the  opening  for  Public  Worship  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  Northern  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  1805.  An  Address  of 
the  Bible  Society  of  Philadelphia,  1809.  An  Address  to  the  Students 
and  Faculty  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  1802.  Report  of  a  Committee 
of  the  General  Assembly  exhibiting  the  Plan  of  a  Theological  Seminary, 
1810.  Life  and  Death  of  the  Righteous;  an  Address  at  the  funeral  of 
the  Rev.  William  M.  Tennent,  D.  D.,  1810.  Advice  and  Exhortation  ad 
dressed  to  the  People  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadel- 


i783. 

phia,  on  resigning  the  pastoral  charge  of  that  congregation,  1812.  A  Re 
port  to  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  relative  to  a  Revival  of 
Religion  among  the  students  of  said  college,  in  the  winter  and  spring  of 
1815.  Doing  good  in  imitation  of  Christ;  a  Discourse  delivered  in  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  the  Sabbath  preceding  the  annual  Commencement, 
1822.  Christ  Crucified  the  Characteristic  of  Apostolic  preaching;  a  Ser 
mon  delivered  at  the  opening  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  1825.  The  Christian  Duty  of  Christian  Women  ;  a  Discourse  de 
livered  at  Princeton  before  a  Female  Society,  for  the  support  of  a  Female 
School  in  India,  1825.  A  Sermon  (National  Preacher,  No.  9),  delivered  at 
the  opening  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  1826.  An  Address  at  the  inter 
ment  of  Robert  Ralston,  1836.  A  Sermon  at  the  Whitefield  Chapel,  1836. 
Lectures  on  the  Shorter  Catechism,  2  vols.  i2mo,  originally  published  in 
the  Christian  Advocate. 

James  Hunt  was  probably  the  son  of  Rev.  James 
Hunt  of  Montgomery  County,  Maryland,  of  the  class  of 
1759,  and  a  brother  of  William  Pitt  Hunt  of  the  class  of 
1786.  He  probably  assisted  and  succeeded  his  father  in 
his  admirable  classical  school  so  long  a  blessing  to  Mary 
land. 

Nathaniel  Lawrence  belonged  to  an  influential 
family  of  Long  Island.  He  was  a  son  of  Captain  John 
Lawrence,  a  naval  officer  in  the  old  French  war.  Imme 
diately  upon  his  graduation,  he  joined  the  North  Caro 
lina  line  of  the  regular  American  army  as  a  lieutenant, 
and  was  made  prisoner  by  the  enemy  after  behaving 
with  great  gallantry.  In  1788,  he  was  chosen  from 
Queens  County,  New  York,  to  the  Convention  which 
ratified  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He  also 
held  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of  the  State  from  De 
cember  24,  1792,  to  November  30,  1795,  and  represented 
Queens  County  in  the  Legislature  for  four  years.  His 
daughter  married  the  Rev.  Philip  Lindsley,  D.D.,  for 
merly  professor  in  the  college.  He  died  at  Hempstead, 
Long  Island,  July  5,  1797. 

Jacob  Radcliff  was  a  son  of  William  Radcliff  of 
Dutchess  County,  New  York,  a  Brigadier-General  dur 
ing  the  Revolution.  After  graduating,  he  read  law,  and 

[216] 


1783- 

commenced  practice  at  Poughkeepsie,  which  he  followed 
with  distinguished  success,  and  at  an  early  age  was  raised 
to  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York.  Re 
moving  to  New  York  City,  he  soon  after  resigned  his 
judicial  office,  returning  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  1810,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York, 
and  was  again  elected  in  1811,  1812  and  1813. 

Mr.  Radcliff  continued  his  professional  pursuits  for 
many  years,  dying  at  a  venerable  age  in  1823. 

Gilbert  Teniient  Snowden,  a  brother  of  Benja 
min  Parker  Snowden  of  the  class  of  1776,  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  On  the  24th 
of  November,  1790,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  and  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Cranberry,  New  Jersey. 

Before  entering  the  ministry,  Mr.  Snowden  had  applied 
himself  intensely  to  the  study  of  law.  But  on  one  occasion, 
attending  the  funeral  of  an  eminent  member  of  the  Bar, 
he  was  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  vanity  of  the  fame, 
wealth,  and  honours  of  the  world,  that  he  resolved  to  re 
nounce  his  former  purpose  and  devote  himself  to  the 
Gospel  ministry.  His  ministry  was  a  short  one,  but  filled 
with  labour  and  crowned  with  fruit.  He  died  February 
20,  1797.  President  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  preached  his 
funeral  sermon,  in  which  he  says  :  "  The  best  eulogy  of 
Gilbert  Tennent  Snowden,  would  be  a  faithful  history  of 
himself." 

Edward  Taylor  studied  medicine  after  graduating, 
and  received  his  degree  under  Dr.  Rush  in  Philadelphia 
in  1786.  Dr.  Taylor  was  a  native  of  Upper  Freehold, 
Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey.  He  began  the  prac 
tice  of  medicine  and  surgery  at  Pemberton,  New  Jersey, 
but  shortly  after  removed  to  his  native  place,  where  he 
was  assiduously  engaged  during  a  long  life  of  remark 
able  activity  and  usefulness  in  the  arduous  labours  and 
responsibilities  of  a  large  county  practice — often  extend- 


1783- 

ing  from  the  Delaware  river  to  the  sea  coast,  and  usually 
traveling  in  the  saddle,  and  not  unfrequently  during  whole 
nights,  regardless  of  weather.  Notwithstanding  such  a 
life  of  intense  physical  and  mental  toil,  his  temperate 
habits  in  eating,  with  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
drinks,  preserved  his  well-formed,  compact,  medium- 
sized  frame,  in  an  unusually  healthful  condition  to  the 
close  of  his  life. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  from  a  conviction  of  duty, 
(having  joined  the  Society  of  Friends,)  he  removed  to 
and  superintended  the  "  Friends'  Asylum  for  the  Insane" 
at  Frankfort,  Pennsylvania,  which  responsible  duty  he 
fulfilled  for  nine  years ;  when  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
New  Jersey,  about  three  years  prior  to  his  decease. 

Few  men,  perhaps,  have  occupied  a  higher  position  in 
the  estimation  of  all  who  knew  them,  than  did  the  sub 
ject  of  this  notice,  for  strict  integrity  to  his  high  stan 
dard  of  morality,  and  justice  to  all.  In  life  and  conver 
sation  he  adorned  the  "  doctrine  of  Christ  "  our  Saviour, 
and  this  was  the  great  object  of  his  life,  and  made  him 
honoured  and  beloved  in  his  own  religious  society,  and 
out  of  it — and  he  left  a  large  unbroken  family  of  children 
to  mourn  his  loss.  He  died  May  2,  1835. 

Joseph  Tenable,  a  native  of  Virginia,  studied  law, 
and  removed  to  Kentucky  soon  after  his  admission  to  the 
Bar,  when  we  lose  sight  of  him. 

George  Whitefield  Woodruff,  a  brother  of  A.  D. 
Woodruff  of  the  class  of  1779,  was  born  at  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey,  March  16,  1765.  After  graduating,  he  studi 
ed  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  as  an  Attorney  at 
the  April  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  1788.  He  re 
moved  then  to  the  State  of  Georgia,  and  acquired  a  posi 
tion  of  much  respectability  at  the  Bar  of  that  State  ;  so 
that  he  was  appointed,  by  President  John  Adams,  United 
States  District  Attorney.  Having  acquired  an  ample 
fortune,  he  returned  to  New  Jersey  and  took  up  his  resi- 

[218] 


1783- 

dence  near  Trenton.  Here  he  lived  in  much  compan 
ionship  with  books,  withdrawn  from  active  business,  but 
not  from  constant  amiable  intercourse  with  men,  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Woodruff  was  the 
oldest  member  of  the  New  Jersey  Bar.  It  is  said  that 
his  most  intimate  friends  never  knew  him  to  be  betrayed 
into  an  angry  deed  or  word.  Possessed  of  fortune,  and 
a  well-cultivated  and  well-stored  mind,  he  exercised,  not 
withstanding  his  retiring  manners,  the  influence  which 
wealth  and  intelligence  confer. 

A  son  of  Mr.  Woodruff  graduated  in  the  class  of  1836. 

[219] 


1784. 

John  Baldwin,  a  son  of  Jonathan  Baldwin  of  the 
class  of  1755,  after  graduating,  studied  law  and  practiced 
for  a  number  of  years  in  New  York  City. 

James  Ashton  Bayard,  a  son  of  James  A.  Bayard, 
M.D.,  and  a  nephew  of  Colonel  John  Bayard,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia  in  1767.  After  leaving  college,  he  studied 
law  in  Philadelphia  and  commenced  practice  in  Dela 
ware.  In  1796  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  of  the  United  States.  He  was  in  the  House 
that  elected  Mr.  Jefferson  President,  and  was  very  influ 
ential  in  the  result.  In  1804  he  was  chosen  to  the  United 
States  Senate.  He  remained  in  this  position  until  he 
was  selected  by  Mr.  Madison,  as  a  Commissioner,  with 
Mr.  Gallatin,  to  negotiate  a  peace  with  Great  Britain, 
and  sailed  on  his  mission,  May  9,  1813.  In  1814,  while  in 
Europe,  he  was  appointed  Envoy  to  the  Court  of  Russia, 
but  he  declined  the  appointment,  stating  "  that  he  had  no 
wish  to  serve  the  administration,  except  when  his  serv 
ices  were  necessary  for  the  good  of  his  country."  Soon 
after  this  he  was  seized  with  violent  illness,  and  was  ob 
liged  to  return  home.  He  arrived  in  June,  and  died  at 
Wilmington,  August  6,  1815. 

Mr.  Bayard  was  a  keen  and  able  debater,  and  eloquent 
beyond  most  of  his  contemporaries.  His  fine  counte 
nance  and  manly  person  recommended  his  eloquent 
words. 

Mr.  Bayard's  Speech  on  the  Foreign  Intercourse  Bill  was  published  in 
1798,  and  his  Speech  on  the  Repeal  of  the  Judiciary,  in  a  volume  of  the 
speeches  delivered  in  this  controversy,  in  1802. 

[220] 


i784. 

Samuel  Bayard  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Bayard, 
of  Philadelphia.  He  resided  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  Princeton,  and  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  high 
Christian  character.  He  was  for  some  years  a  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Mr.  Bayard  corresponded 
with  W.  Pitt,  Lord  Erskine,  Lord  Lansdowne,  Sir  John 
Sinclair  and  Wilberforce.  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander 
writes  of  him,  in  1839,  "  Our  old  friend  Bayard,  now  in 
his  seventy-third  year,  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  speci 
mens  of  religious  serenity  and  hope  that  I  have  seen.  He 
is  tottering  over  the  grave,  but  his  inward  man  is  re 
newed  day  by  day." 

Judge  Bayard  was  for  several  years  a  Trustee  of  the 
College.  He  died  May  12,  1840. 

Mr.  Bayard  published,  Letters  on  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Joseph  Clay  was  born  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  Au 
gust  1 6,  1764.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  Clay,  a 
soldier,  patriot  and  Judge,  of  the  Revolution.  Returning 
to  his  home  in  Savannah,  Mr.  Clay  entered  upon  the 
study  of  the  law,  and  having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar, 
soon  rose  to  the  highest  eminence  in  his  profession.  He 
was  particularly  distinguished  as  an  advocate  in  criminal 
cases.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Convention 
which  formed  the  Constitution  of  Georgia.  In  1796  he 
was  appointed  District  Judge  of  the  United  States  for  the 
District  of  Georgia,  where  he  presided  with  distinguished 
ability  and  universal  approbation.  He  resigned  the 
office  in  1801. 

In  1803  Mr.  Clay  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  was  ordained  the  next  year  as  pastor  of  a 
church  in  Savannah.  In  1807  he  visited  New  England, 
and  was  induced  to  take  charge  of  a  Baptist  Church  in 
Boston  ;  but  in  a  year  or  two  he  resigned  on  account  of 
ill  health.  A  lawyer  in  Providence  once  hearing  him 
preach,  remarked  to  a  friend,  "  See  what  a  lawyer  can 
do."  The  reply  was,  "  See  what  the  grace  of  God  can 
do  with  a  lawyer."  Mr.  Clay  died  in  Savannah,  De- 

[221] 


i784. 

cember,  1804.     He  published  his  Installation  Sermon  in 
1807. 

Ira  Condict,  after  leaving  college,  taught  a  school  in 
Freehold,  New  Jersey,  and  studied  theology  with  the 
Rev.  John  Woodhull.  In  April,  1786,  he  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick;  and  in  1787  he  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Newton 
and  Shappenac,  New  Jersey.  In  1793  he  became  pastor 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  New  Brunswick.  At 
the  revival  of  Queens  College  (afterwards  Rutgers)  in 
1808,  in  effecting  which  he  had  an  important  agency,  he 
was  chosen  Vice-Prcsident.  Dr.  Livingston  was  the  Pres 
ident,  but  the  office  was  a  nominal  one,  as  he  confined 
himself  to  his  theological  professorship,  and  Mr.  Condict 
was  virtually  the  President  until  his  death  in  1811. 

Mr.  Condict  had  a  strong  athletic  frame,  and  was  con 
siderably  above  the  medium  height ;  had  dark  eyes  and 
hair,  with  an  expression  of  countenance  which  indicated 
a  vigorous  masculine  intellect.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
reserve  and  remarkable  gravity.  He  was  a  Trustee  of 
the  College  for  six  years. 

Gabriel  H.  Ford  was  a  brother  of  Timothy  Ford 
of  the  class  of  1783.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1789, 
and  practiced  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  his  native 
place.  On  the  I5th  of  November,  1820,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  and 
held  the  position  for  twenty-one  years.  Judge  Ford  was 
considered  an  efficient  and  eloquent  lawyer,  and  an  up 
right  and  conscientious  judge.  He  died  at  Morristown, 
August  27,  1849. 

James  Hopkins,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  ad 
mitted  to  the  Bar  in  Philadelphia,  and  soon  after  removed 
to  Lancaster,  where  he  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  that 
Bar  in  1787.  Mr.  Hopkins  soon  secured  a  most  extensive 
practice  and  a  distinguished  standing  at  the  Bar.  Presi- 


1784- 

dent  Buchanan  read  law  in  his  office,  although  afterwards 
they  were  usually  opposing  advocates.  While  engaged  as 
leading  counsel  in  an  important  ejectment  suit,  in  Sep 
tember,  1834,  in  which  Mr.  Buchanan  was  the  leading 
counsel  upon  the  opposite  side,  and  while  in  the  act  of 
citing  an  authority,  with  the  words  of  the  sentence  half 
finished,  Mr.  Hopkins  was  struck  with  apoplexy,  and 
never  spoke  again.  It  is  rather  a  singular  coincidence, 
that  this  was  also  the  last  instance  in  which  Mr.  Bu 
chanan  was  engaged  in  the  trial  of  a  case  in  a  court  of 
law,  having  been  very  soon  thereafter  called  to  positions 
of  official  trust.  Mr.  Hopkins  died  September  14,  1834, 
in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Hopkins's  son,  George  Washington,  graduated  at 
Princeton  in  1817,  and  afterwards  had  a  short  but  bril 
liant  career  at  the  Lancaster  Bar.  He  was  so  much  pros 
trated  while  defending  a  man  who  was  accused  of  the 
crime  of  murder,  that  he  never  rallied  from  the  effects  of 
the  prostration,  dying  a  few  months  before  his  father. 

Alexander  dimming  McWhorter  was  the  son  of 
the  Rev.  Alexander  McWhorter,  D.  D.,  of  the  class  of 
1757.  Mr.  McWhorter  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  September,  1788,  and  became  a  highly  re 
spectable  practitioner  in  Newark,  New  Jersey.  He  died 
in  1808. 

Isaac  Ogdeii  became  a  lawyer  in  Delaware  County, 
New  York,  and  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  mem 
ber  of  the  Legislature  of  New  York.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  and  vigorous  intellect,  and  of  great  decision  of 
character. 

William  Radcliff  was  a  brother  of  Jacob  Radcliff 
of  the  class  of  1783.  He  removed  to  South  America,  and 
w'as  for  some  time  United  States  Consul  at  the  City  of 
Lima.  He  afterwards  returned  to  the  United  States,  and 
died  in  Brooklyn  in  1847. 

["3] 


i784. 

John  E.  Spencer  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Elihu  Spen 
cer,  D.D.,  so  long  a  Trustee  and  friend  of  the  college. 
He  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  April  Term,  1789, 
and  as  Counsellor  at  the  April  Term,  1798.  Mr.  Spencer 
resided  and  practiced  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey. 

Abner  Woodruff  was  a  brother  of  George  W.  Wood 
ruff  of  the  preceding  class.  He  was  the  son  of  Elias 
Woodruff  of  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  and  was  born 
December  28,  1767.  In  1772,  his  father  removed  to  Prince 
ton.  In  February,  1779,  Abner  Woodruff  joined  the 
grammar  school  in  Nassau  Hall,  and,  as  he  says,  "  com 
menced  the  rudiments  of  education."  In  1780,  he  enter 
ed  the  Freshman  Class.  Soon  after  graduating  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Sussex  County,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  operations  until  1787,  when  he 
returned  to  Princeton  in  September  of  that  year,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  In  Sep 
tember,  1794,  having  resumed  business  in  Sussex  County, 
he,  with  his  partner,  who  both  belonged  to  a  volunteer 
troop  of  horse,  joined  the  expedition  to  quell  the  Whiskey 
Insurrection  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Woodruff 
became  a  Paymaster  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  New 
Jersey  Cavalry.  In  December  of  the  same  year,  he  re 
turned  to  New  Jersey.  In  1798,  he  received  an  appoint 
ment  as  Midshipman  in  the  Navy,  and  continued  in  the 
service  until  1803,  when  he  resigned  his  commission  and 
removed  to  Georgia,  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of 
years.  Returning  from  Georgia,  he  took  up  his  resi 
dence  at  Perth  Amboy,  New  Jersey,  where  he  died 
January  11,  1842. 

OH] 


1785.   • 

Mathias  Cazier  became  pastor  of  a  Congregational 
Church  in  Pelham,  Massachusetts,  in  the  same  year  that 
he  graduated.  In  August,  1799,  he  removed  to  Connec 
ticut,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  a  church  in  South  Brit 
ain,  where  he  laboured  until  January,  1804.  In  May  of 
that  year,  he  supplied  Salem  Church  in  the  town  of 
Waterbury,  but  for  how  long  a  period  I  do  not  find.  Mr. 
Cazier  died  in  1837. 

Robert  Gooclloe  Harper  was  born  in  Virginia  in 
1765.  When  a  youth  he  served  in  a  troop  of  horse,  un 
der  General  Greene,  in  the  Southern  campaign.  While 
in  college  he  acted  as  tutor  to  one  or  two  of  the  lower 
classes.  Soon  after  graduating  he  went  to  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  found  himself  among  strangers  with 
but  a  dollar  or  two  in  his  pocket.  While  standing  on  the 
wharf  after  landing,  a  by-stander  asked  him  whether  he 
had  not  taught  school  in  Princeton.  This  proved  to  be 
a  gentleman  whose  son  he  had  taught  while  in  college. 
He  offered  him  assistance  and  his  friendship,  and  intro 
duced  him  to  a  lawyer,  in  whose  office  he  studied  for  a 
year,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  He  then  enter 
ed  into  professional  life  in  the  interior  of  the  State,  and 
soon  became  known  by  a  series  of  articles  published  in  a 
newspaper,  on  a  proposed  change  in  the  Constitution  of 
the  State.  He  was  soon  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and 
then  to  Congress,  where  he  became  distinguished.  Af 
ter  the  election  of  Mr.  Jefferson  as  President,  Mr.  Har 
per  retired  from  Congress,  and  having  married  the 
daughter  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  he  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Baltimore.  He  was  em- 
15  [  225  ] 


i785. 

ployed  in  the  defence  of  Judge  Chase  of  the  Supreme 
Court  at  the  time  of  his  impeachment.  In  course  of 
time  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  from 
Maryland.  In  1819  and  1820,  Mr.  Harper  visited  Eu 
rope,  and  on  his  return  became  an  active  member  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society,  a  scheme  in  which  he 
took  the  deepest  interest.  He  died  January  15,  1825. 

Mr.  Harper  published  :  A  Speech  in  behalf  of  the  American  Coloniza 
tion  Society.  An  Address  on  the  British  Treaty,  1796.  Observations  on 
the  Dispute  between  the  United  States  and  France,  1797.  Letter  on  the 
Proceedings  of  Congress.  Letters  to  his  Constituents,  1801.  Correspondence 
with  Robert  Walsh  respecting  Germany,  1813.  Address  on  the  Russian 
Victories,  1813.  Select  Works,  1814. 

John  Vernon  Henry  studied  law  and  entered  upon 
its  practice  in  Albany,  New  York.  In  1800,  he  was  ap 
pointed  Comptroller  of  the  State ;  but  owing  to  the 
change  of  parties,  he  was  removed  the  next  year.  Deep 
ly  disgusted  at  the  transaction,  he  resolved  never  again 
to  accept  any  office,  but  to  devote  himself  to  his  profession. 
This  resolution  he  kept,  and  by  his  assiduous  application 
he  attained  the  highest  eminence  at  the  Bar.  His  dis 
tinguished  talents,  and  high  and  deserved  character  for 
integrity  and  honour,  were  everywhere  acknowledged. 
The  great  superiority  of  Mr.  Henry  as  an  advocate  con 
sisted  in  his  skill  in  condensing  his  argument — in  saying 
everything  which  could  be  said  in  favour  of  the  position 
he  wished  to  establish,  with  the  fewest  possible  number 
of  words.  These  words  were  selected  in  the  best  pos 
sible  manner.  He  never  used  a  single  word  but  such  as 
was  the  very  best  to  express  precisely  the  idea  he  desired 
to  impress  on  the  mind  of  his  hearer.  Of  course  he  was 
neither  florid  nor  brilliant,  but  luminous  and  strictly 
logical,  and  at  times  powerfully  eloquent. 

He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  in  1823.  A 
son  of  Mr.  Henry  graduated  in  the  class  of  1815.  He 
died  in  1829. 

James  Wilkin  studied  law  and  entered   upon  the 

[226] 


1785- 

practice  in  Goshen,  New  York,  his  native  place.  In 
1 800,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  He  also 
represented  his  State  in  Congress,  and  held  almost  every 
station  in  the  gift  of  his  immediate  fellow  citizens,  having 
been  through  life  greatly  beloved  and  respected.  He 
died  in  Goshen  in  1805.  A  son  of  Mr.  Wilkin  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1812,  and  a  grandson  in  1843. 


i  ;86. 

Henry  Clymer  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  July  31, 
1767.  He  was  the  third  son  (the  first  and  second  having 
died  in  infancy)  of  George  Clymer  who  signed  the  Dec 
laration  of  Independence.  His  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  Reese  Meredith,  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  born  in 
Wales,  but  afterwards  a  prosperous  and  respected  mer 
chant  in  Philadelphia.  Henry  Clymer,  after  graduating, 
entered  the  office  of  James  Wilson,  the  leading  lawyer  in 
Philadelphia,  and  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde 
pendence.  In  1794  he  married  the  third  daughter  of 
Thomas  Willing,  who,  for  thirty-nine  years,  was  partner 
of  Robert  Morris.  Mr.  Clymer's  taste  inclining  him  to 
agriculture,  led  him  in  the  summer  of  1799  m^°  the 
country,  where  he  resided  on  a  farm  near  Morrisville, 
Pennsylvania,  opposite  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  There  he 
continued  to  live  until  his  father's  death,  at  the  son's  resi 
dence,  in  1813,  when  the  large  landed  interests  of  his 
father's  estate  carried  him  to  Northumberland  and  then 
to  Wilkesbarre.  In  these  two  places  on  the  Susquehanna, 
he  resided  till  the  winter  of  1819,  when  he  moved  to 
Trenton,  and  afterwards  to  a  country  seat  on  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  Delaware,  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died 
April  17,  1830. 

Mr.  Clymer  was  a  great  friend  of  education,  connect 
ing  himself  with  what  was  useful  wherever  he  happened 
to  live.  Three  of  his  sons  graduated  at  Princeton  in 
1821,  1822  and  1823,  respectively. 

William  Gordon  Forman  was  a  native  of  Mon- 
mouth  County,  New  Jersey.  He  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted  an  Attornev  by  the  Supreme  Court,  at  the  Sep- 


1786. 

tember  Term,  1791.  Soon  after  his  admission  to  the 
Bar,  he  removed  to  Natchez,  Mississippi.  In  1806,  Mr. 
Forman  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Woodhull,  of 
the  class  of  1766.  He  died  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  Oc 
tober  3,  1812. 

Edward  Graham  joined  the  college  from  North 
Carolina,  to  which  State  he  returned  after  graduating, 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law. 

Thomas  Grant  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  in  1791,  and  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
Churches  of  Am  well  and  Flemington,  New  Jersey.  Mr. 
Grant  died  in  1811,  being  succeeded  in  his  churches  by 
Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  D.D. 

William  King  Hugg  studied  law,  and  was  admit 
ted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey, 
September,  1790. 

Ralph  P.  Hunt  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  an 
Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the 
September  Term,  1791,  and  practiced  in  Hunterdon 
County,  New  Jersey.  He  is  said  to  have  died  young. 

William  Pitt  Hunt  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  James 
Hunt,  of  the  class  of  1759.  After  leaving  college,  he  stud 
ied  law,  and  practiced  at  his  home  in  Montgomery  County, 
Maryland.  William  Wirt,  afterwards  so  eminent  as  a 
lawyer,  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  Mr.  Hunt's 
office.  Mr.  Hunt  afterwards  removed  to  Virginia,  the 
place  of  his  father's  birth.  He  died  about  1800.  His 
widow  married  the  Rev.  Moses  Hoge,  D.  D. 

James  Henderson  Imlay  acted  as  tutor  in  the 
college  for  one  year  after  graduating.  He  was  admitted 
an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the 
April  Term,  1790,  and  a  Counsellor  at  the  April  Term, 


i786. 

1796.  From  1797  to  1801,  Mr.  Imlay  was  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  United  States.  He  lived  and 
died  in  Allentown,  New  Jersey. 

Maturin  Livingston,  a  brother  of  William  Smith 
Livingston  of  the  class  of  1772,  studied  law,  and  was  ad 
mitted  to  the  Bar  in  New  York  City,  where  he  practiced 
for  many  years.  On  the  loth  of  November,  1804,  he  was 
appointed  Recorder  of  the  City.  Mr.  Livingston  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Governor  Morgan  Lewis,  of  the  class 
of  1773. 

Peter  William  Livingston  was  a  son  of  Peter 
Robert  Livingston  of  the  class  of  1758.  I  can  find  noth 
ing  of  him  after  his  graduation. 

Amos  Marsh  entered  college  from  New  England. 
After  graduating,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Vermont, 
and  probably  pursued  the  profession  of  law.  In  1789,  he 
was  admitted  to  a  Master's  degree  at  Dartmouth.  From 
1799  to  1801,  Mr.  Marsh  was  Speaker  of  the  General  As 
sembly  of  Vermont.  He  died  in  1811. 

Thomas  Pollock  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina. 
His  mother  was  Eunice,  the  fourth  daughter  of  Presi 
dent  Edwards.  After  graduating,  he  studied  law,  but 
never  practiced  his  profession,  but  living  the  uneventful 
life  of  a  planter.  He  died  in  Italy,  September,  1803. 

Henry  Smalley  was  from  New  Jersey.  In  1788,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Piscataway  Baptist  Church. 
In  1790,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Cohansey  Baptist  Church 
in  Cumberland  County,  New  Jersey.  In  this  charge  he 
remained  forty-nine  years. 

Mr.  Smalley  was  a  laborious  and  successful  minister. 
He  died  February  n,  1839. 

Charles  Smith  was  born  near  Princeton,  New  Jer- 


i786. 

sey.  He  studied  medicine,  and  after  receiving  his  di 
ploma,  was  appointed  a  surgeon  in  the  army  raised  in 
New  Jersey,  which,  under  Governor  Howell  of  that 
State,  took  part  in  suppressing  the  "  Whiskey  Insurrec 
tion."  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  New  Brunswick,  in  partnership  with  Dr. 
Moses  Scott.  After  the  death  of  Dr.  Scott,  he  practiced 
many  years  in  New  Brunswick,  where  he  was  highly 
esteemed  as  a  man  and  physician.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  a  Trustee  of  Rutgers  College,  and  also  President  of 
the  State  Bank  at  New  Brunswick.  He  died  in  1845. 

Samuel  Finley  Snowdeii,  a  brother  of  Gilbert  T. 
Snowden  of  the  class  of  1783,  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  April  24,  1794,  and 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Princeton  on  the  25th  of  November  following.  This 
charge  Mr.  Snowden  resigned  April  29,  1801,  on  account 
of  ill  health.  He  was  afterwards  settled  successively  at 
Whitesboro,  New  Hartford,  and  Sackett's  Harbour  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  He  died  suddenly  in  May,  1845. 

Samuel  Robert  Stewart  read  law  with  Samuel 
Leake,  of  Trenton,  of  the  class  of  1774,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar,  September,  1790.  He  settled  and  practiced 
at  Flemington,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Stewart  was  the  father 
of  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Stewart,  of  the  class  of  1815,  the 
Missionary,  and  afterwards  Chaplain  in  the  Navy.  Mr. 
Stewart  died  in  1802,  at  the  early  age  of  36. 

John  W.  Vancleve  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Van- 
cleve  of  Lawrence  Township,  Hunterdon  County  (now 
in  Mercer)  New  Jersey,  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
Legislature.  From  1787  to  1791,  Mr.  Vancieve  served  as 
a  tutor  in  the  college.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
September,  1791,  and  practiced  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 
He  died  of  yellow  fever  in  Philadelphia  in  1802. 


1787. 

John  Nelson  Abeel  served  as  tutor  in  the  college  for 
two  years  after  his  graduation.  He  then  commenced  the 
study  of  the  law  under  Judge  Paterson  of  New  Jersey ; 
but  relinquishing  the  purpose  of  becoming  a  lawyer,  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  theology  under  Dr.  Living 
ston,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  April,  1793.  He  first 
became  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia, 
but  in  1795,  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  in  the  City  of  New  York.  With  a  dis 
criminating  mind,  and  a  sweet  and  melodious  voice,  and 
his  soul  inflamed  with  pious  zeal,  he  was  pre-eminent 
among  extemporaneous  orators.  In  performing  his  pas 
toral  duties  he  was  indefatigable.  Mr.  Abeel  was  a  man 
of  unassuming  manners,  and  a  truly  eloquent  preacher. 
He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Harvard  in  1804.  Dr.  Abeel  died  January  20,  1812. 

Evan  Alexander  was  from  North  Carolina.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons  of  that  State 
from  1797  to  1803,  and  was  in  Congress  from  1805  to  1809. 
He  died  October  28,  1809. 

Meredith  Clymer  was  the  son  of  George  Clymer,  a 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  a  brother 
of  Henry  Clymer  of  the  class  of  1786.  After  graduating, 
he  pursued  a  course  of  reading  and  study  under  his 
father,  and  in  the  office  of  .Mr.  Milligan,  and  was  admit 
ted  to  the  Bar  at  the  age  of  tweoty-one,  with  a  career  of 
promise  before  him.  But  as  a  member  of  the  First  City 
Troop  of  Philadelphia,  he  was  soon  called  to  assist  in 
quelling  the  u  Whiskey  Insurrection"  in  Western  Pennsyl- 


i787. 

vania.  From  exposure  in  the  camp  he  took  a  cold  which 
terminated  his  life  November  18,  1794,  about  thirty  miles 
above  Pittsburg.  His  death  was  noticed  with  respect  by 
his  brethren  of  the  Troop,  and  by  Dr.  Rush  in  the  news 
papers  of  the  day.  Dr.  Rush,  in  his  notice  of  Mr.  Cly- 
mer,  says  :  "  Few  young  men  have  ever  died  richer  in 
the  love  of  their  friends.  He  had  been  strictly  educated 
in  Republican  principles  and  habits,  and  hence  arose  the 
zeal  with  which  he  joined  the  standard  of  Liberty  in  the 
form  of  law  in  the  expedition  to  the  western  counties  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  genius  was  of  the  first  order,  his 
knowledge  extensive,  accurate  and  useful ;  there  was  a 
commanding  poignancy  of  ideas  in  his  conversation ; 
above  all,  his  morals  were  pure,  and  his  temper  kind  and 
benevolent." 

George  Clymer,  the  father,  resided  near  Princeton  for 
two  years,  superintending  the  education  of  his  sons.  The 
house  he  occupied  was  on  the  Lawrenceville  road,  ad 
joining  "  Morven."  On  leaving  Princeton,  he  placed  his 
sons  in  the  family  of  Colonel  George  Morgan,  whose  home 
was  at  "  Prospect,"  where  now  stands  the  handsome  resi 
dence  of  Mrs.  Potter. 

Robert  Finley  graduated  before  he  was  sixteen 
years  old.  He  was  the  son  of  an  old  friend  of  Dr.  With- 
erspoon,  who  followed  him  from  Scotland,  and  resided  in 
Princeton.  By  the  advice  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  our  grad 
uate  was  appointed  teacher  of  the  grammar  school  con 
nected  with  the  college.  After  remaining  in  this  situa 
tion  some  time,  he  took  charge  of  an  Academy  at  Allen- 
town,  New  Jersey.  In  1791  he  removed  to  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  became  Principal  of  an  Academy  in 
that  city,  where  he  gained  a  high  reputation  as  a  gentle 
man,  a  Christian,  and  a  teacher. 

Having  determined  to  devote  himself  to  the  ministry, 
he  returned  to  Princeton,  and  again  conducted  the  gram 
mar  school,  but  was  soon  appointed  tutor  in  the  college, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  from  1793  to  1795. 


i787. 

On  the  1 6th  of  September,  1794,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  on  the 
i6th  of  June  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Baskingridge,  New  Jersey. 
While  here,  he  was  induced  to  take  a  few  boys  into  his 
family  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  them  for  college.  This 
soon  grew  to  be  one  of  the  largest  and  most  popular 
schools  of  the  day. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Finley  conceived  the  idea  of  Afri 
can  Colonization,  and  he  may  be  considered  as  the  foun 
der  of  the  American  Colonization  Society.  In  1817  he 
was  elected  to  the  Presidency  of  the  University  of  Geor 
gia,  but  he  had  hardly  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  new 
position,  when  disease  seized  him,  and  he  died  October 
3>  1817. 

Dr.  Finley  had  a  large  well-proportioned  frame,  and 
a  countenance  marked  by  decision  and  energy  ;  his  per 
ceptions  were  uncommonly  vivid,  and  his  feelings  pro 
portionately  strong.  He  sustained  a  high  rank  as  a 
preacher.  Dr.  Finley  was  for  ten  years  a  Trustee  of  the 
College. 

The  publications  of  Dr.  Finley  are:  A  Sermon  on  the  Baptism  of  John, 
showing  it  to  be  a  peculiar  dispensation,  and  no  example  for  Christians. 
1807.  A  Sermon  at  the  Funeral  of  the  Rev.  William  Boyd,  of  Laming- 
ton,  New  Jersey.  1807.  A  Sermon  on  the  Nature  and  Design,  the  Benefits 
and  Proper  Subjects,  of  Baptism.  1808.  Two  Sermons  in  the  New  Jersey 
Preacher.  1813.  Thoughts  on  Colonization.  1816. 

James  Gibson  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  September 
13,  1769.  After  graduating,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar, 
after  the  usual  study,  and  became  a  lawyer  of  high  stand 
ing  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Gibson  died  July  8,  1856. 

Charles  Dickinson  Green  was  an  uncle  of  Chief- 
Justice  Green,  and  John  C.  Green,  Esq.,  the  munificent 
friend  of  the  college.  Mr.  Green  studied  theology,  and 
was  licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  but  never  entered  upon  his  profession.  He 

[234] 


1787. 

was  a  fine  scholar  and  a  man  of  considerable  ability.     He 
died  in  1857. 

George  Pollock,  a  brother  of  Thomas  Pollock  of 
the  class  of  1786,  was  a  grandson  of  President  Edwards. 
Like  his  brother,  he  was  bred  to  the  law,  but  never  prac 
ticed.  He  followed  planting  as  a  business.  He  died  in 
April,  1839,  m  Halifax  County,  North  Carolina. 

Elijah  D.  Rattooiie  was  ordained  Deacon  by  Bishop 
Provost,  January  10,  1790.  Shortly  after,  he  took  charge 
of  St.  Anne's  Church,  Brooklyn.  In  1792  he  was  elected 
Professor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  and  in  1794 
Professor  of  Grecian  and  Roman  Antiquities,  in  Colum 
bia  College.  He  resigned  these  positions  in  1797,  and 
the  same  year  became  Rector  of  Grace  Church,  Jamaica, 
Long  Island,  where  he  continued  till  April,  1802,  when 
he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Associate  Rectorship  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Baltimore.  Some  peculiar  circumstances 
induced  him  to  resign  this  charge  after  a  number  of 
years,  upon  which  Trinity  Church,  in  the  same  city,  was 
at  once  built  for  him,  where  he  ministered  with  his  usual 
popularity  till  the  autumn  of  1809.  At  that  time  he  left 
Baltimore  for  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  having  been 
elected  President  of  Charleston  College ;  and  there  he 
died  of  yellow  fever  in  1810.  He  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Charleston  College  in  1804. 

Dr.  Rattoone  was  a  highly  accomplished  scholar  and  an 
eloquent  preacher. 

John  Read  was  from  Delaware,  and  was  the  son  of 
George  Read,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence,  and  was  the  father  of  John  M.  Read,  of  Philadel 
phia.  In  1817  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  died  in  1854. 

Mr.  Read  published,  Arguments  on  the  British  Debt.  1798. 

John  R.  Smith  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.    After 


i787. 

graduating,  he  studied  law  and  practiced  in  Philadelphia 
until  his  death.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  brother  of  the  first  edi 
tor  of  the  National  Intelligencer  of  Washington  City. 

Nathaniel  Randolph  Siiowdeii,  a  brother  of 
Samuel  F.  Snowden  of  the  class  of  1786,  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  in  1794,  and  was  settled  over 
the  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Harrisburg,  Paxton  and 
Derry,  Pennsylvania.  These  charges  he  resigned  in 
about  three  years,  and  afterwards  supplied  many  congre 
gations,  but  making  no  permanent  settlement.  He  died 
November  3,  1850. 

Lucius  Horatio  Stockton  was  a  son  of  Richard 
Stockton  of  the  class  of  1748.  He  studied  law  and  set 
tled  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Stockton  was  for  some 
time  District  Attorney  of  New  Jersey.  A  few  weeks  be 
fore  the  close  of  the  administration  of  President  Adams, 
he  was  nominated  as  Secretary  of  War,  which  gave  great 
umbrage  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  just  coming  into  office. 

Mr.  Stockton  was  eccentric,  and  a  very  earnest  politi 
cian,  but  did  not  deserve  to  be  called  "  a  crazy,  fanatical 
young  man,"  as  Wolcott  wrote  in  Gibbs's  "  Federal  Ad 
ministration." 

Mr.  Stockton  wrote  a  long  series  of  articles  in  the  Tren 
ton  Federalist,  in  1803,  defending  himself  and  his  uncle 
Samuel  Witham  Stockton  from  attacks  in  the  Democratic 
True  American.  He  died  May  26,  1835. 

Daniel  Thew,  a  native  of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  after 
graduating,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
the  City  of  New  York,  where  he  practiced  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Thew  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  William 
Burnet  of  the  class  of  1749.  He  died  in  1814. 

[236] 


1788. 

Thomas  A.  Bellach  was  a  native  of  Kent  County, 
Delaware.  After  graduating,  he  studied  law  and  was  ad 
mitted  to  the  Bar. 

George  Clarkson,  a  son  of  Gerardus  Clarkson,  M.D., 
of  Philadelphia,  was  born  February  27,  1772.  He  gradu 
ated  in  his  seventeenth  year,  with  the  highest  honours  of 
his  class.  He  died  April  3,  1804. 

Aaron  Coiidict  was  a  native  of  Orange,  New  Jersey. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1790. 
Shortly  after,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Stillwater,  New  York,  where  he  remained  for 
about  three  years.  On  the  i3th  of  December,  1796,  he 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Hanover,  New  Jer 
sey,  which  he  served  for  thirty-five  years,  when  he  re 
signed  on  account  of  ill  health.  His  ministry  was  emi 
nently  successful.  He  was  distinguished  for  his  wisdom, 
humility,  benevolence,  hospitality  and  a  deep  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  Church.  He  died  in  April,  1852. 

Richard  Eppes  was  born  near  Petersburg,  Virginia. 
He  came  to  New  York,  on  his  way  to  college,  in  a 
schooner,  and  was  three  weeks  on  the  passage.  Mr. 
Eppes  remained  seven  years  in  Princeton  without  once 
returning  home. 

It  is  probable  that  after  graduation  he  studied  law  in 
Princeton.  After  his  return  home  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar. 

Mr.  Eppes  died  unmarried  in  1801. 

[237] 


1788. 

Thomas  K.  Harris,  after  leaving  college,  studied 
medicine,  and  in  1790,  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Medicine  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  which 
was  an  inferior  honour  to  that  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  I 
can  trace  him  no  further. 

Nathaniel  W.  Howell  resided,  after  gradua 
tion,  in  Ontario  County,  New  York,  and  was  a  law 
yer  of  high  standing.  He  was  a  Judge  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  State,  and  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  1813  to  1815.  He  died  October  16, 
1851. 

William  Kirkpatrick,  a  son  of  William  Kirkpat- 
rick  of  the  class  of  1757,  was  born  at  Amwell,  New  Jer 
sey,  November  7,  1769.  After  leaving  college,  he  stud 
ied  medicine  with  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  in  1795,  commenced  practice  in  Whitestown,  New 
York.  The  professional  education  of  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  was 
of  the  highest  order,  and  he  might  have  attained  a  com 
manding  position  as  one  of  the  most  scientific  physicians 
of  the  age  in  which  he  lived  had  he  continued  in  his  pro 
fession,  but  a  nervous  temperament,  of  such  a  peculiar 
and  sensitive  character  as  to  unfit  him  in  a  great  meas 
ure  for  the  practical  duties  of  a  physician,  led  him  to  en 
ter  into  other  employments.  In  1806,  he  was  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  Salt  Springs,  and  removed  to  Sa- 
lina,  New  York,  now  the  first  ward  of  the  City  of  Syra 
cuse.  In  1808,  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  was  elected  to  the  House 
of  Representatives,  it  being  the  last  Congress  under  Jef 
ferson's  administration.  Although  not  prominent  as  a 
public  speaker,  yet  he  was  greatly  respected  at  Washing 
ton  as  an  intelligent,  educated  and  high-minded  man, 
and  during  that  period  formed  an  intimate  acquaintance 
and  friendship  with  many  of  the  most  distinguished  men 
of  the  day.  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  was  a  warm  and  earnest 
advocate  for  the  making  of  the  Erie  Canal.  At  the  close 
of  his  Congressional  term,  he  was  re-appointed  Superin- 


1788. 

tendent  of  the  Onondaga  Salt  Springs  in   1811,  and  held 
the  office  until  1831. 

During  the  whole  life  of  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  after  removing 
to  Salina,  he  continued  to  cultivate  his  literary  taste  by 
an  intimate  reading  of  all  of  the  standard  works  of  the 
day,  and  particularly  of  the  English  and  Scotch  Reviews  ; 
indeed  to  works  of  this  character  he  devoted  a  large  por 
tion  of  his  leisure  time.  At  this  time,  when  books  were 
scarce,  he  possessed  one  of  the  largest  libraries  in  West 
ern  New  York.  He  was  of  a  joyous  and  pleasant  tem 
perament,  and  delighted  to  sit  down  with  literary  friends 
and  converse  upon  the  current  topics  of  the  day.  He 
was  in  mind,  thought  and  feeling  a  gentleman.  In  man 
ners  he  was  dignified,  easy,  graceful  and  refined.  Dr. 
Kirkpatrick  died  of  cholera,  September  2,  1832. 

Timothy  Treadwell  Smith.  I  find  no  trace  of 
Mr.  Smith  until  1801,  when  he  was  appointed  Professor 
of  the  Greek  and  Latin  Languages  in  Union  College. 
He  died  in  November,  1803. 

David  Stone  was  born  in  Bertie  County,  North 
Carolina,  February  17,  1770.  After  graduating,  he  re 
turned  to  North  Carolina,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law  under  William  R.  Da  vie  of  the  class  of  1776.  In  1790, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and  from  his 'assiduity  in  his 
profession,  and  his  deep  and  varied  acquirements,  he 
soon  rose  to  the  highest  ranks  of  the  profession.  Mr. 
Stone  entered  early  into  political  life.  From  1791  to 
1794,  he  was  in  the  State  Legislature.  From  1795  to 
1798,  he  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State. 
In  1799,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  United  States;  and  in  1801  was  transferred  to  the 
United  States  Senate.  In  this  capacity  he  served  until 
1806,  when  he  was  again  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court ;  this  position  he  resigned  in  1808,  on  being  elect 
ed  Governor  of  the  State.  In  1811,  he  was  again  in  the 
Legislature,  and  in  1813,  was  again  chosen  United  States 


1788. 

Senator.  This  was  a  most  stormy  period.  The  war 
which  had  been  declared  against  Great  Britain  was  at 
its  height ;  parties  were  violently  excited.  Differing 
from  his  party  in  many  important  points,  he  resigned  his 
seat  November  21,  1814,  and  went  into  retirement.  Mr. 
Stone  never  recovered  his  position  with  his  party,  or  his 
influence  in  the  State.  He  died  in  October,  1818. 

Smith  Thompson  rose  rapidly  to  distinction  in  New 
York,  his  native  State.  Having  studied  law  with  Judge 
Kent,  he  entered  upon  practice,  and  was  soon  appointed  a 
District  Attorney.  In  1801,  Mr.  Thompson  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York,  two  of  his 
associates,  Morgan  Lewis  and  Henry  Brockholst  Liv 
ingston,  being  graduates  of  Princeton.  The  Reports 
of  the  Supreme  Court  are  enduring  monuments  of 
the  learning  and  ability  of  Brockholst  Livingston  and 
Smith  Thompson.  As  a  man  of  genius,  Livingston 
was  unquestionably  the  superior  of  Thompson  ;  but 
for  legal  acumen,  clearness  of  perception,  and  logical 
powers  of  mind,  there  are  few  if  any  men,  in  this  or  any 
other  country,  who  excel  Judge  Thompson.  In  Febru 
ary,  1814,  Chief-Justice  Kent  being  appointed  Chancellor, 
Judge  Thompson  succeeded  him  as  Chief-Justice.  In 
1818,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Monroe  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  and  in  1823  was  elected  to  the  Bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  Judge  Thompson 
was  a  man  of  great  learning  in  his  profession,  and  his 
private  life  was  pure  and  exemplary.  He  died  in  1843, 
aged  76. 

Nicholas  Vandyke  represented  the  State  of  Dela 
ware  in  Congress  from  1807  to  1811;  and  again  from 
1817  to  1826.  He  died  in  May,  1826. 

John  Wells  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  New  York. 
About  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  Wyoming,  the  Indians, 
under  the  lead  of  the  celebrated  Brant,  made  an  attack 

[  24°] 


1788. 

upon  the  settlements  of  Western  New  York,  and  the 
father,  mother,  uncle  and  aunt,  and  four  brothers  and 
sisters  of  John  Wells,  were  murdered  by  the  savages. 
He,  being  on  a  visit  from  home,  escaped  the  fearful 
slaughter. 

At  college,  Mr.  Wells  was  distinguished  for  his  habits 
of  study  and  good  conduct,  and  was  pronounced  the  best 
Greek  scholar  and  mathematician  in  the  class.  He  was 
a  great  favourite  with  Dr.  Witherspoon,  who  was  in  the 
habit  of  holding  him  up  as  an  example  of  exemplary  con 
duct,  of  industry,  and  of  personal  neatness. 

He  studied  law  in  New  York  City,  and  was  licensed 
as  an  Attorney  in  1791,  and  admitted  as  a  Counsellor  in 
1795.  In  1797,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Jay  one 
of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  a  new  court  just  establish 
ed.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  this  post  with  distin 
guished  ability  and  impartiality. 

In  1805,  Mr.  Wells  first  became  prominent  as  an  ad 
vocate  in  a  number  of  libel  suits,  growing  out  of  the 
duel  between  Hamilton  and  Burr.  For  some  time 
previous  to  this  he  had  been  Editor  of  the  Evening 
Post,  and  many  of  its  ablest  articles  were  from  his 
pen.  In  1807,  Mr.  Wells  argued  his  first  cause  at  the1 
Bar  of  the  Supreme  Court,  before  the  full  Bench  of 
Judges,  and  from  that  time  to  1823,  the  year  of  his  death, 
the  Reports  of  the  State  bear  abundant  evidence  of  his 
extensive  and  varied  practice,  and  of  his  research  and 
profound  learning. 

On  one  occasion  in  an  important  case,  after  concluding 
his  speech,  his  learned  friend  and  illustrious  rival  at  the 
Bar,  Mr.  Emmett,  who  had  attended  both  the  English 
and  Irish  Courts,  observed,  that  it  was  the  most  able  and 
finished  argument  he  had  ever  heard.  Laudatus  a  laudato 
viro  —  no  higher  praise  could  be  bestowed.  After  its 
close,  Mr.  Wells  went  from  court  to  his  house,  where 
his  family,  and  some  friends  who  had  been  listeners,  over 
whelmed  him  with  compliments,  He  soon  after  retired, 
and  was  afterwards  found  kneeling  in  his  chamber,  and 
16  [  241  ] 


i788. 

said  that  he  had  sought  solitude  to  thank  his  God  that  he 
had  enabled  him  to  discharge  his  duty,  and  to  pray  for 
strength  against  the  petty  folly  of  vanity. 

Mr.  Wells  died  at  Brooklyn,  in  September,  1823,  of 
yellow  fever,  contracted  in  the  cause  of  benevolence  and 
humanity.  All  said  that  a  great  man  had  fallen.  He 
was  considered  the  pride  of  the  New  York  Bar. 

Mr.  Wells  possessed  an  acute,  logical  and  investigating 
mind,  improved  by  early  discipline  and  culture.  In  his 
studies  he  possessed,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  power  of 
abstraction.  He  could  pursue  a  train  of  thought  amidst 
noise  and  conversation.  Modesty  formed  a  prominent 
trait  in  his  character,  and  its  deep  tinge  was  perceptible 
throughout  his  whole  life.  The  lofty  integrity  which 
adorned  his  character  was  founded  in  a  deep  sense  of 
religion,  and  from  a  conviction  arising  from  examination 
of  its  truth  and  holy  uses.  He  was  as  eminent  as  a  Chris 
tian  as  he  was  as  a  lawyer. 

David  Wiley  received  his  license  from  the  Presby 
tery  of  New  Castle,  and  from  1794  to  1802  was  pastor  of 
Spring  Creek  and  Cedar  Creek  Churches,  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  died  in  1813. 

[  242  ]  " 


.  .;•'.... ;,,, .;.,   1789.   ,,,,:•,  '    :; 

William  A.  Anderson  was  admitted  an  Attorney 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  May  Term, 
1792. 

Nathaniel  Boileau  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and 

practiced  in  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
at  one  time  Secretary  of  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Boileau  was  for  many  years  President  of  the  Montgomery 
County  Bible  Society.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age  in 
1850. 

Robert  Hett  Chapman  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Jede- 
diah  Chapman,  the  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister  in 
Western  New  York.  He  spent  the  year  after  graduating 
at  his  father's  house,  devoting  himself  to  general  read 
ing,  undecided  what  profession  to  follow.  But  finally  de 
ciding  upon  the  ministry,  he  pursued  his  studies,  at  the 
same  time  acting  as  an  instructor  at  Queens  College, 
New  Brunswick,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York,  October  2,  1793,  and  immediately  proceeded 
on  a  missionary  tour  through  the  Southern  States.  On 
his  return  from  this  tour  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presby 
terian  Church  at  Rah  way,  New  Jersey,  and  was  installed 
in  1796.  In  1 80 1  he  became  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Cambridge,  New  York.  In  1811  he  was  ap 
pointed  President  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  in  1812.  He  was  eminently 
successful  in  elevating  the  tone  of  the  college.  Here  he 
remained  laboriously  employed,  not  only  in  his  college 
duties,  but  in  preaching  the  Gospel,  until  1817,  when  he 
resigned  the  Presidency,  removing  to  the  Valley  of  Vir- 


1789. 

ginia,  where  he  became  pastor  of  Bethel  Church.  He 
remained  in  Virginia  for  about  ten  years ;  then  spent  a 
year  or  two  in  North  Carolina,  and  in  1830  removed  to 
Tennessee,  and  settled  at  Covington.  Here  he  was  upon 
the  frontier,  and  his  influence  for  good  was  powerfully  felt. 
As  a  teacher,  he  was  faithful  and  diligent.  As  a  preacher, 
he  was  highly  evangelical.  He  died  June  18,  1833. 

Mr.  Chapman  published:  A  Sermon  on  Conscience  ;  A  Sermon  on  Re 
generation. 

John  Collins.  The  ancestor  of  Mr.  Collins  came  to 
this  country  from  England  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
that  he  "  might  enjoy  a  purer  worship  of  God  and  a  more 
exact  church  discipline."  Two  of  his  distinguished  sons 
are  the  subject  of  an  article  in  Mather's  "  Magnalia,"  en 
titled  "  Gemini — The  Life  of  the  Collins's." 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Somerset  Coun 
ty,  Maryland,  February  16,  1769.  After  graduating,  he 
assumed  the  Presidency  of  Washington  Academy,  in  his 
native  county,  at  that  time  and  long  afterwards  a  most 
distinguished  Seminary.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  Lewes  in  1791.  In  1797  he  purchased  an  estate 
in  New  Castle  County,  Delaware,  whither  he  removed, 
and  became  and  continued  to  be  pastor  of  the  Presbyte 
rian  Church  in  St.  George's  until  his  death,  which  occur 
red  April  12,  1804.  Acute  disease  claimed  the  victim, 
when  in  the  vigour  of  his  manhood — leaving  a  precious 
memory. 

"  Non  annis,  sed  factis  vivunt  mortales." 

Isaac  Watts  Crane,  after  graduating,  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
New  Jersey  at  the  September  Term,  1797,  and  as  Coun 
sellor  at  the  November  Term,  1800.  Mr.  Crane  was  from 
Essex  County,  but  practiced  most  of  his  life  in  Cumber 
land  County,  New  Jersey.  He  died  in  1856. 

Mahloii  Dickerson  was  from  New  Jersey.    After 

[  244] 


i789. 

graduating,  he  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  in  November,  1793. 
Soon  after,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  became 
Recorder  of  the  City,  and  subsequently  Quarter-Master- 
General  of  the  State.  Returning  to  New  Jersey,  he  be 
came  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  then  a  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State.  In  1815,  he  was  elected 
Governor,  which  office  he  held  until  1817,  when  he  was 
chosen  United  States  Senator,  and  continued  in  that  posi 
tion  for  sixteen  years.  In  1834  he  became  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  under  General  Jackson,  and  held  that  Depart 
ment  until  1838,  two  years  after  the  accession  of  Martin 
Van  Buren.  He  died  October  5,  1853. 

David  English  resided  in  Georgetown,  District  of 
Columbia,  after  his  graduation,  probably  engaged  in 
teaching.  In  1794  he  was  appointed  tutor  in  the  college, 
and  held  the  post  until  1796,  when  he  took  the  manage 
ment  of  the  Seminary  established  at  Baskingridge,  New 
Jersey,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Finley.  Here  he  remained 
for  a  few  years,  sustaining  the  high  character  of  the  in 
stitution.  After  retiring  from  this  laborious  position,  he 
took  up  his  residence  again  in  Georgetown.  Mr.  English 
was  a  man  of  amiable  manners  and  fine  scholarship. 

John  Lyon  Gardiner  was  the  son  of  David  Gardi 
ner,  the  sixth  proprietor  of  Gardiner's  Island,  Long 
Island.  John  Lyon  was  the  seventh  proprietor.  After 
graduating,  he  resided  upon  his  large  estate,  where  he 
died  November  22,  1816. 

David  Gardiner,  a  brother  of  the  above,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Flushing,  Long  Island,  where  he  died  April 
6,  1815. 

David  Hosack  was  born  in  New  York  City,  August 
31,  1769.  He  was  the  son  of  a  Scotchman  who  came  to 
America  with  Lord  Jeffrey  Amherst.  After  graduating, 

['45  1 


i789- 

he  studied  medicine,  and  received  his  degree  at  Phila 
delphia  in  1791,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Europe, 
and  pursued  his  studies  in  Edinburgh  and  London.  A 
paper  which  he  wrote  on  Vision,  while  in  London,  was 
published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  in 
1794.  On  his  return  to  New  York,  he  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Botany  and  of  Materia  Medica  in  Columbia 
College.  In  the  new  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur 
geons  he  taught  Physic  and  Clinical  Medicine,  in  which 
branch  he  was  especially  eminent.  From  1820  to  1828, 
he  was  President  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 
For  more  than  thirty  years  Dr.  Hosack  was  a  prominent 
medical  practitioner  in  New  York.  He  exerted  a  wide 
and  commanding  influence  in  the  community,  and  his 
Saturday  evening  parties,  where  he  was  accustomed  to 
entertain  the  professional  gentlemen  of  the  city  and  dis 
tinguished  foreigners,  were  widely  known.  In  all  promi 
nent  movements  connected  with  the  arts,  the  drama,  medi 
cal  and  other  local  institutions,  and  the  State  policy  of 
internal  improvements,  Dr.  Hosack  bore  a  part. 

His  Alma  Mater  is  indebted  to  him  for  a  Mineralogi- 
cal  Cabinet,  containing  about  one  thousand  valuable 
specimens. 

Dr.  Hosack  died  suddenly  December  23,  1835. 

Dr.  Hosack's  publications  are:  Hortus  Elginensis,  8vo.  Facts  relative 
to  the  Elgin  Botanic  Garden,  8vo.  American  Medical  and  Philosophical 
Register ;  editor.  A  Biographical  Memoir  of  Hugh  Williamson,  M.  D., 
LL.D.,  1820,  8vo.  Essays  on  Various  Subjects  of  Medical  Science,  1824- 
30 ;  3  vols.  8vo.  Inaugural  Discourse  at  the  opening  of  Rutgers  Medical 
College,  1826,  8vo.  A  System  of  Practical  Nosology,  1829,  8vo.  Memoirs 
of  DeWitt  Clinton,  1829,  4to.  Lectures  on  the  Theory  and  Practice  of 
Physic,  edited  by  Rev.  Henry  Ducahet,  M.  D.,  1838,  8vo.  He  also  pub 
lished,  A  Paper  on  Vision  in  Philosophical  Transactions  (Royal  Society), 
1794.  Medical  Papers  in  Annals  of  Medicine,  1793,  1796.  A  Biographical 
Account  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush.  Several  Discourses. 

Thomas  Pitt  Irving  came  to  Princeton  from  Mary 
land.  From  about  1790  to  1812,  he  was  the  Principal  of 
an  Academy  at  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  whence  he  was 
called  to  the  double  duty  of  presiding  over  the  Academy, 

[246] 


i789. 

and  officiating  as  Rector  of  the  Church,  at  Hagerstown, 
Maryland.  He  was  much  distinguished  as  a  teacher,  and 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  Greek  scholars  and  ma 
thematicians  of  his  day. 

William  Perry  was  a  native  of  Talbot  County,  Mary 
land.  From  the  best  information  I  can  obtain  he  died 
early  in  life. 

Isaac  Pierson  belonged  to  an  old  New  Jersey  fami 
ly.  After  graduation,  he  studied  medicine,  and  was  ad 
mitted  a  Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur 
geons,  New  York.  He  followed  his  profession  in  Orange, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  continued  to  practice  for  nearly 
forty  years.  From  1827  to  1831,  he  was  in  the  United 
States  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  a  man  of  high 
Christian  character.  He  died  in  1841. 

Charles  Snowden  was  the  youngest  son  of  Isaac 
Snowden  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  last  of  five  brothers 
who  graduated  at  Princeton.  After  graduating,  he  re 
mained  a  few  months  as  a  tutor  in  the  college,  and  pur 
sued  the  study  of  theology.  He  was  licensed  to  preach, 
and  delivered  one  very  eloquent  and  pathetic  sermon, 
and  that  was  all.  Soon  after,  he  became  the  proprietor 
of  a  newspaper  in  the  City  of  New  York  ;  but  the  name 
of  the  paper,  or  how  long  he  remained  in  New  York,  I 
have  not  been  able  to  discover.  After  leaving  New  York, 
he  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  engaged  actively  in  the 
development  of  a  coal  property  which  he  possessed,  and 
in  the  building  of  a  canal. 

Ephraim  King  Wilson  represented  Maryland,  his 
native  State,  in  Congress  from  1827  to  1831.  He  died  in 
1834.  His  son,  William  S.  Wilson,  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1835,  and  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Sharpsburg 
in  1862,  on  the  Confederate  side.  The  family  resided  in 
Snow  Hill,  Maryland. 

[H7] 


i789. 

Silas  Wood,  after  graduating,  became  a  tutor,  which 
position  he  held  for  nearly  five  years.  He  afterwards 
resided  on  Long  Island,  and  was  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  the  State  of  New  York,  from  1819  to  1829. 
He  died  March  2,  1847,  aged  78. 

He  published  :  A  History  of  Long  Island. 

[Z48] 


1790. 

Israel  Harris,  a  son  of  Dr.  Harris  of  Pittsgrove, 
Salem .  County,  New  Jersey,  after  graduating,  pursued 
the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  May  Term,  1795. 
He  practiced  in  Somerset  County,  New  Jersey.  Mr. 
Harris  died  young. 

Robert  G-.  Johnson  was  a  son  of  Robert  Johnson 
of  an  old  family  of  Salem  County,  New  Jersey.  The 
father  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  station,  and  the  mother 
a  descendant  of  early  and  wealthy  settlers  from  England. 

On  one  occasion  the  father  of  young  Johnson  com 
plained  bitterly  to  Dr.  Witherspoon  that  his  son  had 
not  been  advanced  as  he  expected.  After  bearing  con 
siderable  reproach,  the  doctor  broke  out  with  the  strong 
Scotch  accent  common  when  he  was  excited,  "  I  tell  you, 
sir,  the  boy  wants  capacity !" 

Soon  after  graduating,  Mr.  Johnson  became  Captain 
of  a  troop  of  Cavalry,  and  soon  rose  to  be  Colonel.  In 
1794,  he  served  in  the  army  raised  to  quell  the  Whiskey 
Insurrection,  as  a  paymaster. 

Colonel  Johnson  was  in  his  own  right,  and  in  the  right 
of  his  wife,  probably  the  largest  land-owner  in  Salem 
County.  In  1821,  and  from  1823  to  1825,  he  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  man  of 
truth  and  honour,  but  so  fixed  in  his  convictions  as  not 
always  to  be  tolerant  of  those  who  differed  with  him. 
He  was  very  hospitable  and  beyond  question  a  true 
Christian,  but  owing  to  this  peculiarity  of  temper  was 
unpopular  with  many.  Colonel  Johnson  was  fond 
of  historical  research,  and  was  Vice-President  of  the 


1790. 

New  Jersey  Historical  Society  from  its  foundation  in 
1845,  till  near  his  death,  and  furnished  much  historical 
matter ;  among  other  things,  a  Memoir  of  John  Fenwick, 
the  early  proprietor  of  West  Jersey.  Colonel  Johnson 
died  at  New  Haven  in  October,  1850. 

William  Johnson  studied  law  and  settled  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  where  he  rapidly  rose  to 
eminence.  He  was  Associate-Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States.  Judge  Johnson  was  not  only 
an  able  lawyer,  but  a  man  of  cultivated  tastes.  He  pub 
lished  a  life  of  General  Greene,  that  was  deemed  by  Gene 
ral  Henry  Lee,  the  son  of  General  Lee  of  the  class  of 
1773,  so  unjust  to  his  father's  fame,  and  that  of  his  brave 
Legion,  that  he  resolved  to  defend  both,  which  he  did 
with  success  in  an  octavo  volume,  entitled  "  Campaigns 
of  1782  in  the  Carolinas."  Judge  Johnson  besides  his  Life 
of  General  Greene,  published,  Essay  to  Philosophical 
Society  ;  Nugse  Georgicae,  1815  ;  Eulogy  on  Adams  and 
Jefferson,  1826.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws  from  Princeton  in  1818,  and  also  from 
Harvard.  Judge  Johnson  died  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
August  4,  1834. 

John  Riian  came  from  the  Island  of  St.  Croix.  Af 
ter  graduating,  he  studied  medicine,  and  practiced  for 
many  years  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia.  Dr.  Ruan  died 
in  1845. 

John  Taylor  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  He 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1793,  but 
turned  his  attention  chiefly  to  planting.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  South  Carolina  Legislature  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  represented  that  State  in  Congress  from  1807 
to  1809,  and  again  from  1817  to  1821.  From  1810  to  1816, 
he  was  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  from  1826  to 
1828  he  was  Governor  of  South  Carolina. 

He  died  in  1832. 

[250] 


1790. 

George  Spafford  Woodhull  was  the  son  of  Rev. 

John  Woodhull  of  the  class  of  1766.  After  graduating, 
he  studied  law  for  two  years,  and  medicine  for  one  year ; 
but  determining  to  enter  the  ministry,  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  November  14, 

1797,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  at  Cranberry,  New  Jersey,  June  6, 

1798.  Here  he  remained  until  1820,  when  he  was  chosen 
pastor  of  the  Church  in  Princeton.     For  twelve  years  he 
laboured  here  faithfully  and  successfully.     In  1832  he  re 
signed  his  charge,  and  spent  the  two  last  years  of  his  life 
as  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Middletown  Point, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  died  December  25,  1834.     He  was 
eminently  blameless  and  exemplary  in  his  life — eminently 
peaceful  and   happy  in  his  death'.      Three  of  his   sons 
graduated  at  Princeton  ;  one  in  1822,  and  two  in  1828. 


1 791- 

David  Barclay,  after  leaving  Princeton,  studied  the 
ology,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  December  3,  1794,  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  Church  at  Bound  Brook,  New  Jersey,  where  he  re 
mained  until  April,  1805,  when,  on  account  of  some 
troubles,  in  June  of  that  year,  he  removed,  and  became 
pastor  of  Knowlton,  Oxford  and  Lower  Mount-Bethel 
Churches,  New  Jersey.  He  continued  here  until  1811.  Mr. 
Barclay  was  a  man  of  decided  ability  ;  quick,  earnest  and 
energetic  in  his  motions  and  his  speech  ;  of  stout,  athletic 
frame,  but  of  an  impetuous,  imprudent  temperament.  Mr. 
Barclay  had  much  trouble  with  his  congregations,  and 
one  of  his  elders,  Mr.  Jacob  Ker,  published  a  volume  of 
more  than  four  hundred  pages,  entitled,  "  The  Several 
Trials  of  David  Barclay  before  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  and  Synod  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey." 
On  the  25th  of  April,  1819,  Mr.  Barclay  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Punxatawny,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  in  1846. 

Jacob  Burnet  was  a  son  of  Dr.  William  Burnet  of 
the  class  of  1749.  After  graduating,  he  studied  law  for 
one  year  in  the  office  of  Richard  Stockton,  and  after 
wards  with  Elisha  Boudinot.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  1796,  and  removed  immediately  to  the  North 
west  Territory,  and  settled  at  Cincinnati.  He  immedi 
ately  rose  to  eminence  in  his  profession.  In  these  early 
times,  Mr.  Burnet  was  accustomed  to  travel  on  horse 
back  from  court  to  court,  carrying  his  blanket  and  pro 
visions  ;  at  night  he  camped  in  the  woods,  there  being 

[252] 


1791. 

neither  tavern,  bridge,  ferry  nor  even  a  road  in  his 
route. 

After  being  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  re 
peatedly,  in  1816  Mr.  Burnet  retired  from  active  practice, 
but  in  1821  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Ohio,  which  position  he  filled  with  distinguished  abil 
ity.  From  this  position  he  was  transferred  to  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  where  he  exhibited  the  same  traits 
of  character  for  which  he  had  always  been  remarkable- 
clearness  and  depth  of  understanding,  sound  reasoning, 
equable  and  happy  temperament. 

One  of  the  founders  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Burnet  lived  to  see 
the  few  early  settlers  of  Cincinnati  increased  to  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  thousand.  At  the  age  of  eighty,  he 
walked  the  streets  erect,  and  he  was  yet  interesting  by  his 
colloquial  powers.  Judge  Burnet  died  May  10,  1853, 
aged  80. 

He  published,  Notes  on  the  North-western  Territory,  Cincinnati,  1847. 

Joseph  Calclwell  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
During  his  whole  collegiate  course,  he  maintained  the 
highest  rank  as  a  scholar.  On  the  day  of  his  graduation, 
he  spoke  the  Latin  Salutatory.  For  about  a  year  he  re 
mained  in  Princeton  as  a  tutor.  In  1796  he  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  was  elected 
Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  being  then  only  twenty -three  years  of  age. 
Under  his  care,  the  prospects  of  the  University  speedily 
brightened  and  flourished  ;  and  in  1804  he  was  elected 
the  First  President.  He  continued  to  hold  this  office 
until  1812,  when  he  returned  to  the  Mathematical  Chair, 
being  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Hett  Chapman, 
also  an  alumnus  of  Princeton  of  the  class  of  1789.  In 
1817  Dr.  Chapman  resigned,  and  Dr.  Caldwell  was  again 
elected  President.  In  1824  he  visited  Europe  for  the  pur 
pose  of  purchasing  books  and  apparatus  for  the  Univer 
sity,  and  was  absent  about  a  year.  The  greatest  good  of 
the  University,  and,  indeed,  the  general  progress  and  in- 


1791. 

tellectual  improvement  of  the  State,  were  ever  the  most 
engrossing  objects  of  Dr.  Caldwell's  care,  and  with  un 
tiring  perseverance  and  fidelity  he  presented  the  claims 
of  education  to  the  community,  and  appealed  to  the  com 
munity  for  their  support. 

The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  his  Alma  Mater  in  1816.  He  died  January  24, 
1835.  North  Carolina  reveres  his  memory.  Her  most 
distinguished  sons  were  his  pupils,  and  cherish  for  him 
a  truly  filial  affection  ;  and  the  advance  which  that  State 
made  in  intelligence  and  virtue,  through  the  instrumen 
tality  of  his  labours,  is  an  enduring  monument  of  his 
power  and  wisdom. 

Besides  two  or  three  occasional  Sermons,  Dr.  Caldwell  published  A 
Compendious  System  of  Elementary  Geometry,  in  seven  books  :  to  which 
an  eighth  is  added,  containing  such  other  Propositions  as  are  Elementary. 
Subjoined,  is  a  Treatise  of  Plain  Trigonometry.  He  published  also  in  one 
of  the  Raleigh  newspapers,  a  series  of  articles  called,  "  Letters  of  Carlton," 
which  were  designed  to  awaken  a  spirit  of  internal  improvement  in  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  ;  and  another  series  on  Popular  Education,  or  Free 
Schools.  These  were  republished  in  a  volume  about  the  year  1825. 

Samuel  Sharpe  Dickerson  was  a  native  of  Talbot 
County,  Maryland.  After  graduating,  he  became  a  phy 
sician,  and  representated  his  native  county  in  the  House 
of  Delegates  once  or  twice.  He  died  about  1847  or 
1848. 

Maltby  Gelston  was  the  son  of  David  Gelston,  of 
New  York,  for  some  time  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  afterwards  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New 
York.  The  son,  after  graduating,  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  but  never  entered  actively  into  prac 
tice.  When  Mr.  Monroe  went  as  Minister  to  France, 
Mr.  Gelston  attended  him  as  his  private  Secretary.  For 
a  number  of  years  Mr.  Gelston  was  President  of  the  Man 
hattan  Bank  in  New  York.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling 
integrity  and  high  character  in  the  community.  He  died 
December  2,  1860. 

[254] 


I79I. 

Henry  Hollyday  was  a  native  of  Talbot  County, 
Maryland,  where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  more  than 
a  hundred  years.  At  one  time  he  represented  his 
county  in  the  State  Senate,  and  was  never  in  public  life 
except  in  that  instance,  having  devoted  himself  thereafter 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died  in  1850. 

Francis  Markoe  came  to  college  from  the  Island  of 
Santa  Cruz.  His  ancestors  were  of  Huguenot  descent, 
and  of  high  rank,  the  Duke  of  Sully  being  among  them. 
After  graduating,  he  returned  to  his  native  Island.  Here, 
in  the  midst  of  luxury  and  wealth,  he  was,  by  a  remark 
able  providence,  converted  to  God.  Finding  the  Island 
unsuited  to  his  new  feelings  and  new  purposes,  he  re 
moved  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia  about  the  beginning 
of  the  century,  and  entered  into  mercantile  life.  Here 
he  was  abundant  in  labour,  especially  in  the  instruction 
of  the  ignorant,  in  which  was  his  great  delight.  Remov 
ing  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York,  he  became  an  elder 
in  the  Mercer  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Dr. 
Skinner  was  pastor.  Here  his  Christian  character  shone 
forth  pre-eminently.  Dr.  Skinner  wrote  of  him  :  "Among 
contemporary  Christians,  so  far  as  my  acquaintance  has 
extended,  as  complete  and  perfect  pattern  of  holiness  as 
he  was,  I  have  not  seen  ;  nor  have  I  heard  or  read  of 
many  among  saints  of  former  times  that  seem  to  have 
more  adorned,  in  all  things,  the  doctrine  of  Christ." 

A  son  of  Mr.  Markoe,  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Markoe,  a  distin 
guished  surgeon  of  New  York,  graduated  in  1836.  Mr. 
Markoe  died  in  triumph  in  New  York,  February  16, 
1848. 

Fredrick  Stone  came  to  Princeton  from  one  of  the 
Southern  States.  After  graduating,  he  went  to  Philadel 
phia  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law ;  but  in  1793 
the  yellow  fever  appearing  in  the  city,  he  repaired  to 
Princeton,  but  was  taken  ill  of  the  disease  and  soon  died. 


Ellas  Van  Artsdale  studied  law,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  New  Jersey  Bar  at  the  September  Term  of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  1795.  He  settled  in  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  and  was  long  a  distinguished  lawyer.  For  many 
years  he  was  President  of  the  State  Bank  at  Newark.  He 
died  in  1846,  aged  seventy-five. 

[256] 


1792. 

Joseph  McKnitt  Alexander  was  the  son  of  John 
McKnitt  Alexander,  famous  for  his  connection  with  the 
Mecklenburg  Declaration.  After  graduating  with  eclat, 
he  returned  to  his  native  State  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine.  In  due  time  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  acquired  both  reputation  and  wealth. 
He  was  distinguished  for  his  practical  judgment  and 
plain  common  sense.  For  a  time  he  was  in  great  danger 
from  the  influence  of  French  infidelity,  which  was  then 
prevalent,  but  the  truth  triumphed,  and  in  the  meridian 
of  life  he  became  a  worshipper  of  the  God  of  his  fathers, 
connected  himself  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
continued  through  life,  until  the  infirmities  of  old  age 
prevented,  to  be  active  in  the  promotion  of  its  interests, 
in  alleviating  and  ameliorating  the  condition  of  men.  He 
died  in  1841. 

Nicholas  Bayard  was  the  youngest  son  of  Colonel 
John  Bayard  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  After 
leaving  college  he  studied  medicine,  and  received  his  di 
ploma  in  Philadelphia.  He  first  commenced  practice  in 
New  York  City,  but  soon  relinquished  it  for  the  drug 
business.  After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  New  Bruns 
wick,  but  failing  health  led  to  his  removal  to  Savannah, 
Georgia,  in  1803,  where  he  died,  October  30,  1822. 

George  M.  Bibb  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  after 
graduating  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
in  Kentucky.  Mr.  Bibb  was  a  Justice,  and  twice  Chief- 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  afterwards  Chancel 
lor  of  the  State.  For  two  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
17  [2571 


1792. 

State  Senate.  From  1811  to  1814,  and  from  1829  to  1835, 
he  was  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  from  Ken 
tucky.  When  Mr.  Tyler  became  President  of  the  United 
States,  Mr.  Bibb  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Treas 
ury.  On  retiring  from  this  office  he  took  up  his  resi 
dence  permanently  in  Washington,  and  until  the  close  of 
life  practiced  his  profession  in  that  city.  For  a  time  he 
acted  as  an  assistant  to  the  Attorney-General  of  the 
United  States.  Until  the  last  Mr.  Bibb  retained  the  an 
cient  dress  of  broad-brimmed  hat,  small  clothes,  black 
silk  hose  and  silver  shoe-buckles.  The  personal  appear 
ance  of  Mr.  Bibb,  aside  from  his  costume,  was  remarka 
ble  ;  he  was  a  man  of  great  physical  vigour  of  constitu 
tion,  as  shown  in  his  erect  carriage  and  firm  step  after  he 
had  become  an  octogenarian.  He  was  rather  above  the 
middle  size,  and  his  frame,  like  his  mind,  was  compact 
and  well  knit  together.  He  was  a  firm  friend,  a  kind  hus 
band  and  an  affectionate  parent.  His  freedom  and  frank 
ness  with  young  people  was  especially  remarkable  and 
pleasing.  One  of  his  peculiarities  was  his  great  fondness 
for  fishing.  On  one  occasion  in  the  Senate,  it  had  been 
insinuated  by  the  opposers  of  the  administration,  that 
some  of  the  Senators,  whose  terms  of  office  were  about  to 
expire,  would  be  recipients  of  Presidential  favours.  "  I 
deny  this,"  said  Mr.  Bibb,  at  the  conclusion  of  his  speech, 
"  so  far  as  I  am  concerned.  I  have  no  personal  object  in 
view.  I  have  no  ambition.  For  myself,  I  prefer  to  sit 
with  my  rod  and  line  on  the  banks  of  a  pellucid  stream 
enjoying  the  pleasure  of  calmness  and  contemplation,  to 
any  object  that  my  ambition  could  achieve."  A  good 
story  is  told  of  him  in  this  connection.  One  warm  after 
noon  the  officer  in  command  at  the  Washington  Arsenal 
observed  Mr.  Bibb  sitting  on  a  broken-down  wharf  hour 
after  hour  intently  watching  his  float.  At  last  he  strolled 
down  from  the  quarters  to  inquire,  "  What  luck?" 
"  None,"  replied  Mr.  Bibb.  "  I  thought  I  had  some  bites 
two  or  three  hours  ago,  but  there  is  not  a  fish  hereabouts, 
now,  apparently." 


1792. 

"  What  is  your  bait?"  asked  the  officer. 

"  A  plump  young  frog,  hooked  through  the  fleshy  part 
of  his  leg."  Scarcely  had  he  finished  this  reply,  when 
the  questioner,  overcome  with  laughter,  pointed  to  a  log 
which  was  partly  out  of  water,  and  there  the  fisherman 
saw  his  bait ;  the  frog  having  got  tired  of  swimming 
about,  had  jumped  upon  the  log  and  was  calmly  enjoying 
the  sun. 

Mr.  Bibb  died  in  Washington,  April  4,  1859. 

He  published,  Reports  of  Cases  at  Common  Law  and  in  Chancery  in  the 
Court  of  Appeals  of  Kentucky,  1808-1817.  4  volumes,  8vo. 

Peter  Bleeker  was  a  native  of  the  City  of  New 
York.  He  died  a  few  months  after  his  graduation  in  1793. 

George  Whitefield  Burnet  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
Jersey,  at  the  September  Term,  1796.  He  settled  and 
practiced  in  Newark,  New  Jersey ;  but  subsequently  re 
moved  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1800. 

James  Chestnut  was  from  South  Carolina.  After 
graduating,  he  returned  to  the  South  and  engaged  in 
Planting.  His  wife  was  Miss  Cox,  of  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  and  was  one  of  the  company  of  young  ladies  who 
in  1789  strewed  flowers  in  the  path  of  Washington  at 
Trenton,  as  he  was  on  his  way  to  his  inauguration.  A 
son  of  Mr.  Chestnut  graduated  in  the  class  of  1835,  and 
was  afterwards  a  United  States  Senator  from  South  Caro 
lina.  Mr.  Chestnut  died  in  1866. 

William  Chetwood,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  was 
admitted  to  practice  at  the  New  Jersey  Bar  in  1798.  Dur 
ing  the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
he  attended  Major-General  Lee,  of  the  class  of  1773, 
as  Aid-de-camp.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
upper  house  of  the  New  Jersey  Legislature,  and  during 
the  administration  of  General  Jackson  was  appointed  to 

[»59l 


1792. 

fill  a  vacancy  in  Congress.  He  was  an  able  lawyer, 
and  practiced  his  profession  until  his  /oth  year.  He  died 
December  18,  1857. 

Peter  Early  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  but  after  grad 
uating  he  removed  to  Georgia,  and  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  law.  In  1802  he  was  elected  to  Congress, 
and  soon  became  a  leading  member  of  that  body.  When 
the  impeachment  of  Judge  Chase  was  before  Congress, 
he  was  associated  with  John  Randolph  and  others  in 
conducting  the  prosecution.  His  speech  on  this  occa 
sion  is  said  to  have  been  the  ablest  that  was  delivered  on 
the  side  of  the  prosecution.  He  continued  in  Congress 
until  1807,  when  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  in  Georgia.  In  1813  he  was  elected  Governor  of 
the  State.  In  these  critical  times  he  acted  with  the  great 
est  wisdom  and  firmness.  His  military  arrangements 
were  extremely  judicious,  and  his  administration  of  the 
government  most  able  and  patriotic.  When  some  one 
suggested  that  the  Union  of  the  States  might  not  be  per 
manent,  Governor  Early  replied,  that  if  such  a  thing 
should  happen,  he  had  no  wish  that  Georgia  should  sur 
vive  the  general  wreck ;  he  wanted  to  swim  or  sink  to 
gether.  He  died  August  15,  1817. 

Jacob  Ford  was  a  brother  of  Timothy  Ford  of  the 
class  of  1783,  and  Gabriel  Ford  of  the  class  of  1784.  What 
became  of  him  after  his  graduation,  I  have  not  been  able 
to  discover. 

Charles  Wilson  Harris  was  a  native  of  North  Caro 
lina.  On  his  return  to  his  home,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law,  but  in  1795  was  appointed  Professor  of 
Mathematics  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  He 
accepted  the  office  only  for  one  year,  and  declined  re 
newing  his  term  of  engagement,  wishing  to  follow  his 
profession,  in  Avhich  he  became  eminent,  being  consid 
ered  one  of  the  best  lawyers  in  the  State. 

[260] 


1792. 

William  Hosack  was  a  brother  of  David  Hosack  of 
the  class  of  1789.  He  never  followed  any  business,  but 
resided  in  the  City  of  New  York.  He  was  intimate  with 
Aaron  Burr,  and  they  were  in  Europe  together  about 
1809. 

Edmund  Jennings  Lee  was  the  fifth  and  youngest 
son  of  Henry  Lee  of  Prince  William  County,  Virginia, 
and  was  born  in  that  county,  May  20,  1772.  He  was  a 
brother  of  Henry  Lee  of  the  class  of  1773,  and  of  Charles 
Lee  of  the  class  of  1775.  He  married  the  daughter  of 
Richard  Henry  Lee  of  the  Continental  Army.  Mr.  Lee 
was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  was,  for  many  years, 
Clerk  of  the  United  States  Court  in  Alexandria,  when 
that  county  was  part  of  the  District  of  Columbia.  He, 
however,  continued  to  practice  his  profession  in  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  courts  of 
his  native  State.  Mr.  Lee  died  May  30,  1843. 

In  reply  to  the  resolutions  of  respect  on  the  occasion 
of  his  death,  by  the  members  of  the  Washington  Bar,  the 
Chief-Judge  Cranch,  said  :  "  The  Judges  of  this  Court 
sympathize  sincerely  with  the  members  of  the  Bar  in  the 
loss  of  one  of  its  oldest,  most  respected  and  learned  mem 
bers.  Mr.  Lee,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  only 
survivor  of  those  who  were  counsellors  of  this  Court  at 
the  time  of  its  organization  in  1801,  and  the  Judges  from 
their  long  association  with  him  in  the  administration  of 
justice,  from  their  high  respect  for  his  character  as  a 
learned,  able  and  upright  advocate,  as  well  as  for  the 
virtues  which  adorned  his  private  life,  cannot  but  greatly 
lament  his  loss,  and  uniting  with  the  Bar  in  their  sym 
pathy  with  his  bereaved  family  and  friends,  most  will 
ingly  accede  to  the  request  that  their  proceedings  be  en 
tered  upon  the  minutes  of  the  Court." 

Mr.  Lee  died  in  the  Communion,  of  the  Protestant  Epis 
copal  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  consistent  and  useful  mem 
ber  for  nearly  half  a  century.  In  the  history  of  that  Church 
in  Virginia  since  its  revival,  no  name  among  the  laity 


1792. 

stands  more  conspicuous  than  his.  He  was  one  of  the 
small  number  who,  in  1814,  gave  their  sanction  to  the 
call  of  the  venerated  Bishop  Moore  to  the  Episcopate  of 
Virginia.  From  that  period  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
was  elected  annually  a  member  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  of  the  Diocese.  Bishop  Meade  wrote  of  Mr.  Lee, 
"  I  not  only  knew  Mr.  Lee  from  my  youth  up,  but  I  saw 
him  in  his  last  moments,  and  heard  him  with  the  truest 
humility  speak  of  himself  as  a  poor  sinner,  whose  only 
hope  was  in  Christ." 

Mr.  Lee  left  several  children,  most  of  whom  are  now 
living  in  Virginia. 

George  C.  Maxwell  after  leaving  college  studied 
law,  and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  May  Term  1797,  as  a  Coun 
sellor  at  the  May  Term,  1800,  and  called  as  Sergeant-at- 
Law  in  1816.  Mr.  Maxwell  practiced  in  Hunterdon 
County,  New  Jersey.  From  1811  to  1813,  he  was  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  from  New 
Jersey.  He  died  at  Flemington,  New  Jersey. 

George  Washington  Morton  was  a  brother  of 
Jacob  Morton  of  the  class  of  1778.  After  graduating,  he 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  in  New  York  City,  but 
soon  relinquished  it  for  the  mercantile  business,  and  be 
came  a  leading  merchant  in  the  St.  Domingo  trade.  He 
died  in  1810. 

John  C.  Otto  was  the  son  of  Bodo  Otto,  an  eminent 
physician,  and  distinguished  as  a  public  character  in  the 
stirring  periods  of  the  Revolution.  The  son  was  born 
near  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  March  15,  1774.  After 
graduating,  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Rush,  and  in 
1796  received  his  medical  diploma  from  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Otto  soon  attained  a  highly  res 
pectable  rank  among  his  contemporaries,  and  in  1798 
was  elected  one  of  the  physicians  of  the  Philadelphia  Dis- 

[262] 


1792. 

pensary ;  an  institution  which  he  faithfully  served  for  a 
period  of  five  years.  In  1813,  he  was  appointed  to  suc 
ceed  Dr.  Rush,  lately  deceased,  as  one  of  the  Physicians 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital.  Here  his  untiring  devo 
tion  to  the  sick,  his  sound  medical  knowledge,  his  ma 
tured  judgment,  and  a  deep  sense  of  the  responsibilities 
of  the  post,  proved  him  to  be  the  right  man  for  the  im 
portant  position.  Dr.  Otto  held  this  office  during  a 
period  of  twenty-two  years. 

His  clinical  lectures  while  connected  with  the  hospital 
were  models  of  conciseness,  simplicity  and  truthfulness. 
One  of  his  pupils,  himself  afterwards  eminent  as  a  phy 
sician,  writes  :  "  Who  cannot  look  back  with  lively  satis 
faction  and  recall  the  slender  and  slightly-stooping  frame 
of  this  venerable  physician,  as  he  passed  around  the  wards 
of  the  hospital,  stopping  at  each  bed  as  he  passed,  kindly 
saluting  his  patient,  making  the  necessary  inquiries  into 
his  condition,  and  then,  in  the  most  unaffected,  and  yet 
impressive  manner,  addressing  himself  to  the  assembled 
class,  and  fastening  upon  their  minds  some  valuable 
medical  precept." 

In  addition  to  this  responsible  position,  Dr.  Otto  was 
connected  with  several  other  public  charities.  During 
twenty  years  he  served  the  Orphan  Asylum,  where  he 
was  much  beloved  by  the  children  and  by  all  connected 
with  the  institution.  He  was  also  physician  during  many 
years  to  the  Magdalen  Asylum,  in  the  prosperity  of  which 
he  took  a  deep  interest.  In  1840,  Dr.  Otto  was  elected 
Vice-President  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  a  position 
which  he  occupied  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  social  life  Dr.  Otto  was  remarkable  for  the  simplic 
ity  and  ease  of  his  manners,  and  for  the  instruction  which 
pervaded  his  conversation.  He  was  a  warm  Presbyte 
rian,  but  of  a  truly  Catholic  spirit.  His  religion  was 
eminently  vital  and  practical.  He  read  the  Scriptures 
morning  and  evening,  and  rarely  passed  a  day  without 
perusing  a  portion  of  Thomas  a  Kempis'  Imitation  of 
Christ.  Dr.  Otto  died  as  he  had  lived,  an  humble  and 

[263] 


1792. 

devout  Christian,  beloved  and  respected  by  all,  June  26, 
1844. 

Dr.  Otto  published :  Medical  Papers  in  the  New  York  Medical  Reposi 
tory,  1803;  Coxe's  Medical  Museum,  1805;  Eclectic  Repository;  North 
American  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  1828,  1830. 

Joseph  Reed,  a  son  of  General  Joseph  Reed  of  the 
class  of  1757,  was  born  in  Philadelphia," July  11,  1772. 
After  graduating,  he  studied  law  in  Philadelphia,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  Mr.  Reed  was  for  a  number 
of  years  Recorder  of  the  City.  He  died  March  4,  1846. 

Mr.  Reed  published:  The  Laws  of  Pennsylvania,  1822-1824.  Five  vol 
umes,  8vo. 

William  Ross  became  a  lawyer  and  practiced  in 
Orange  County,  New  York.  At  one  time  he  was  quite 
prominent  in  politics.  In  1812,  he  was  an  active  mem 
ber  of  the  Lower  House  of  the  Legislature  of  New  York, 
and  in  1814,  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  where  he  re 
mained  for  many  years. 

James  Ruan  was  from  St.  Croix,  and  was  probably 
the  brother  of  John  Ruan  of  the  class  of  1790.  I  cannot 
find  a  trace  of  him  after  his  graduation. 

Robert  Russell  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  in  1795,  and  about  1797  he  joined  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Allen  Township  (now  Allen- 
town),  Pennsylvania,  succeeding  the  Rev.  Francis  Pep- 
pard,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1762.  Here  Mr.  Russell 
laboured  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  died 
in  1827. 

John  J.  Sayres  was  a  native  of  New  York.  He  was 
admitted  to  Deacon's  and  Priest's  Orders  by  Bishop 
Clagget  of  Maryland.  In  January,  1799,  he  entered  on 
the  charge  of  Durham  Parish,  Charles  County,  Mary- 


1792. 

land.  After  remaining  here  about  a  year,  in  conse 
quence  of  feeble  health,  he  removed  to  Georgetown, 
District  of  Columbia,  where  he  supported  himself  by 
teaching  and  preaching  as  strength  would  permit.  He 
was  Chaplain  to  the  United  States  Senate  in  1806  and 
1807.  He  died  in  1808.  Mr.  Sayres  is  remembered  as 
a  faithful  and  excellent  minister,  and  was  much  beloved 
by  his  people. 

William  B.  Sloan  came  to  Princeton  from  Laming- 
ton,  New  Jersey,  of  which  place  he  was  a  native.  He 
studied  theology  with  Dr.  John  Woodhull,  of  Freehold, 
New  Jersey,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  May  3!,  1797,  and  in  1798  was  ordained  by 
the  same  Presbytery,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  United 
Congregations  of  Greenwich  and  Mansfield.  For  seven 
teen  years  he  served  both  congregations,  and  then  became 
the  pastor  of  Greenwich  only ;  when,  through  increas 
ing  infirmities,  he  was  compelled  to  resign  his  charge  in 
October,  1834. 

Mr.  Sloan  was  a  man  of  noble  presence  —  above  the 
medium  height,  erect,  slender,  but  well  formed  ;  his  feat 
ures  finely  chiselled,  yet  manly  and  dignified  in  expres 
sion  ;  his  eye,  a  clear  expressive  blue ;  his  gait  and  bear 
ing  stately  yet  unconstrained.  His  talents  were  respect 
able,  though  not  great ;  his  style  simple  and  unaffected. 
He  was  not  a  very  vigorous  thinker,  but  was  an  earnest 
and  affectionate  preacher.  He  died  July  3,  1839. 

Jacob  S.  Thompson  read  law  and  was  admitted  an 
Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the 
November  Term,  1796,  and  practiced  in  Sussex  County, 
New  Jersey.  In  February,  1800,  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Governor  Clerk  of  that  county  ;  and  in  October  of 
the  same  year  was  reappointed  by  the  Legislature,  and 
held  office  till  1805. 

William  Morton  Watkins,  after  graduating,  re- 

[265] 


1792. 

turned  to  Virginia  and  studied  law,  but  never  practiced 
his  profession,  but  engaged  in  planting.  He  was,  at  one 
time,  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  Mr.  Watkins  was  a 
man  of  considerable  talent.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age 
in  1865. 

George  Willing  was  the  son  of  the  Honourable 
Thomas  Willing,  of  Philadelphia ;  and  was  born  in  that 
city,  April  14,  1774.  It  is  probable  that  he  received  his 
earlier  instruction  from  teachers  there  ;  and  it  was  a  high 
testimony  to  the  reputation  in  that  day  of  Princeton  Col 
lege  that  his  father,  so  closely  identified  with  the  reputa 
tion  and  people  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  man  of  the  highest 
discernment  and  sagacity,  should  have  given  him  his 
later  education  at  Nassau  Hall.  On  leaving  college,  he 
entered  the  counting-house  of  his  father ;  he  afterwards 
went  to  India  on  commercial  business  of  the  house  of 
Willing  &  Francis.  A  disposition  not  inclined  to  the 
activities  of  business,  and  the  possession  of  an  ample  for 
tune,  induced  him  to  retire  from  commerce  in  early  life ; 
and  during  part  of  the  year,  at  his  country  residence  of 
Richland,  near  Philadelphia,  he  devoted  himself  a  good 
deal  to  the  occupations  of  elegant  agriculture.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Agricul 
ture,  which,  under  the  presidency  of  his  near  connection, 
the  Honourable  Richard  Peters,  of  Belmont,  Philadel 
phia,  attained  reputation  many  years  ago,  and  still  pre 
serves  it.  He  died  December  22,  1827,  and  is  buried  in 
the  grounds  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  where  many 
of  his  ancestors  lie. 

[266] 


1793- 

Dow  Ditmars,  the  son  of  Abraham  Ditmars,  of 
Jamaica,  Long  Island,  was  born  June  12,  1771.  After 
graduating,  he  studied  medicine,  and  settled  at  Hellgate 
(now  Astoria),  Long  Island,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death. 

Manuel  Eyre,  after  graduating,  became  a  successful 
merchant  in  Philadelphia.  One  of  his  sons  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1838. 

John  Gibson,  a  brother  of  James  Gibson  of  the  class 
of  1787,  was  a  well  known  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  He 
was  also  a  fine  classical  scholar.  Mr.  Gibson  never  mar 
ried.  He  died  about  1824,  and  is  buried  at  St.  Peter's 
Church,  Philadelphia. 

John  Henry  Holbart  was  descended  from  an  an 
cient  New  England  family,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
September  14,  1775.  Soon  after  graduating,  he  entered 
a  counting-house  in  his  native  city,  but  finding  the  em 
ployment  repugnant  to  his  tastes  and  habits,  and  a  tutor 
ship  at  Princeton  being  offered  to  him,  he  left  Philadel 
phia  and  entered  upon  his  new  duties  in  the  college  in 
January,  1796.  Here  he  prosecuted  his  theological  stu 
dies  under  the  direction  of  the  President,  Dr.  Samuel 
Stanhope  Smith.  Having  remained  in  Princeton  two 
years,  he  repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  completed  his  the 
ological  course  under  the  direction  of  Bishop  White,  and 
in  June,  1798,  was  admitted  by  him  to  the  Order  of  Dea 
cons.  He  was  first  settled  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Phil 
adelphia,  but  in  1799,  accepted  an  invitation  to  Christ's 

[267] 


Church,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  Here  he  remained 
for  one  year,  when  he  took  charge  of  St.  George's  Church 
at  Hempstead,  Long  Island.  He  had  scarcely  become 
settled  there,  when  he  was  offered  the  Rectorship  of  St. 
Mark's  Church,  New  York,  which  he  promptly  declined  ; 
but  in  September,  1800,  he  became  Assistant  Minister  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York,  and  shortly  after  was  or 
dained  Priest  by  Bishop  Provost.  In  1811  he  was  elected 
Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York.  Here  his 
labours  were  immense.  On  the  death  of  Bishop  Moore 
in  1816,  Dr.  Hobart  became  Diocesan  of  New  York. 
There  was  scarcely  any  subject  in  which  Bishop  Hobart 
felt  a  deeper  interest  than  the  proper  education  of  the 
clergy,  and  the  incipient  efforts  which  he  put  forth  on  the 
subject  at  that  early  period  may  be  said  to  have  formed 
the  germ  of  the  Theological  Seminary  which  was  located 
in  New  York  in  1819.  About  1821  Dr.  Hobart  was  ap 
pointed  to  the  chair  of  Pastoral  Theology  and  Pulpit 
Eloquence  in  that  institution.  He  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  professorship  so  as  effectually  to  secure  the  affec 
tion,  gratitude,  and  admiration  of  his  pupils.  In  1823  he 
visited  Europe,  on  account  of  his  health,  which  had  be 
come  impaired,  where  he  remained  until  September,  1825. 
On  his  return  he  addressed  himself  to  his  duties  with  re 
newed  zeal  and  energy.  He  died  September  10,  1830. 
As  a  preacher  Dr.  Hobart  was  rapid  and  business-like, 
earnest  in  his  manner,  and  perfectly  natural  in  his  de 
livery.  His  voice,  though  not  strong,  was  clear,  and  his 
tones  varied.  His  attachment  to  his  own  church  was 
very  strong,  and  led  him  to  the  most  vigorous  efforts  for 
the  promotion  of  its  interests. 

Bishop  Hobart  was  a  voluminous  writer,  and  published 
much  that  was  ephemeral.  His  principal  publications 
are: 

The  Companion  for  the  Altar.  1804.  The  Companion  to  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer.  1805.  The  Clergyman's  Companion.  1806.  A  Collec 
tion  of  Essays  on  the  Subject  of  Episcopacy.  1806.  The  Christian's  Man 
ual  of  Faith  and  Devotion.  1814.  Mant  and  D'Olyly's  Bible,  with  Notes. 


'793- 

1823-     Besides  these,  Bishop  Hobart  published  between  twenty  and  thirty 
Pastoral  Charges,  Pastoral  Letters,  Sermons,  Addresses,  etc. 

Nathaniel  Hunt  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  After 
graduating,  he  lived  and  died  upon  a  farm  about  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  Princeton.  Mr.  Hunt  taught  a  country 
school  for  some  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1805  or  1806. 

Robert  Hunt  studied  law  and  was  admitted  an  At 
torney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the  Feb 
ruary  Term,  1799,  and  practiced  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 
He  was  a  son  of  Abraham  Hunt,  a  merchant  of  that  city. 
He  died  in  October,  1802. 

John  Neilson,  a  son  of  John  Neilson  of  New  Bruns 
wick,  New  Jersey,  became  a  Physician  of  great  eminence, 
and  practiced  during  a  long  life  in  the  City  of  New  York, 
where  he  was  respected  and  honoured  by  the  whole  com 
munity.  He  died  in  1857. 

Robert  Og'den  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  September  Term, 
1797.  He  was  a  nephew  of  Governor  Aaron  Ogden  of 
the  class  of  1773,  and  was  born  September  16,  1775.  After 
his  admission  to  the  Bar,  Mr.  Ogden  settled  in  Newbern, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  practiced  for  a  time,  and  then 
removed  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  In  1821  he  re 
moved  to  Louisiana,  and  in  1825  was  appointed  Judge  of 
the  Parish  of  Concordia.  Mr.  Ogden  died  at  Greenville, 
Louisiana,  in  1857. 

Charles  Tennent  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
and  a  son  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent  of  the  class  of 
1758.  I  can  learn  nothing  of  his  history  after  his  grad 
uation. 

Isaac  Van  Doren  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
After  graduating,  he  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Theo- 

[269! 


'793- 

dore  Dirck  Romeyn,  and  completed  his  studies  with 
Dr.  Livingston.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Classis  of  New 
York,  and  was  ordained  about  1798.  In  1800  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Hope  well,  Or 
ange  County,  New  York,  where  during  a  pastorate  of 
twenty-three  years  he  was  blessed  with  eminent  success. 
Leaving  his  charge,  he  removed  to  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
and  was  for  four  years  Principal  of  an  Academy  in  that 
place  ;  after  which,  with  his  eldest  son,  he  established  the 
Collegiate  Institute  on  Brooklyn  Heights.  From  thence 
he  removed  to  Lexington,  Kentucky.  After  spending 
several  years  in  teaching  in  the  West,  he  returned  to 
New  Jersey.  His  latter  years  were  passed  happily  and 
usefully  among  his  children.  Mr.  Van  Doren  was  emi 
nently  social,  given  to  hospitality,  the  gifted  counsellor 
of  young  clergymen  and  of  all  who  sought  his  advice. 
He  .was  not  a  brilliant  man,  but  was  remarkable  for  sound 
common  sense,  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  unspotted  integ 
rity,  and  unostentatious  piety.  He  died  at  Perth  Amboy, 
August  12,  1864. 

Mr.  Van  Doren's  only  publication  was  a  Tract  entitled,  "  A  Summary  of 
Christian  Duty,"  compiled  from  the  Douay  Bible. 

Joshua  Madox  Wallace,  son  of  Joshua  Madox 
Wallace,  Esq.,  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  September  4, 
1776.  The  capture  of  the  city  soon  after  by  the  British 
forces,  caused  the  retirement  of  the  family  of  the  parents  of 
Mr.  Wallace  to  a  seat  of  theirs  on  the  Raritan,  Somerset 
County,  New  Jersey,  called  Ellerslie,  after  the  ancestral  es 
tate  in  Scotland,  from  which  country,  Mr.  John  Wallace, 
the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  our  notice,  came.  The 
elder  Mr.  Wallace,  himself  a  scholar,  instructed  his  son 
during  more  tender  years,  at  his  own  home.  He  was  after 
wards  placed  with  a  younger  brother,  John  Bradford  (of 
whom  more  hereafter),  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  William 
Frazer,  a  particular  personal  friend  of  the  elder  Mr.  Wal 
lace,  and  a  most  exemplary  clergyman  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Am- 

[270] 


J793- 

well,  not  very  far  from  the  country  seat  of  Mr.  Wallace. 
On  the  close  of  the  war,  the  elder  Mr.  Wallace  having 
established  his  residence  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  this 
son  in  due  time  was  entered  at  Princeton  College  ;  an 
institution  in  which  the  father  had  always  taken  great 
interest,  and  of  which,  from  1798,  till  his  death  in  1819,  he 
was  an  active  and  efficient  Trustee.  We  have  no  par 
ticular  record  of  his  studies  and  progress  there.  It 
seems  to  have  been  satisfactory.  His  younger  brother 
was  placed  there  a  year  or  two  afterwards.  President 
Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  writes  to  their  father,  March  27, 
1792  :  "  It  gives  me  singular  pleasure  to  be  able  to  say  of 
the  good  morals,  diligence  and  talents  of  your  sons,  every 
thing  that  the  fondest  and  worthiest  parents  can  wish, 
and  I  anticipate  the  satisfaction  which  you  must  have  in 
their  company  when  they  return  home  after  their  exam 
ination  ;  and  you  will  allow  me  to  say  I  sincerely  par 
ticipate  in  it." 

After  his  graduation,  Mr.  Wallace  was  placed  in  the 
counting-house  of  Mr.  William  Cramond,  an  English 
merchant  of  high  standing  in  Philadelphia,  with  a  view 
to  entering  on  commercial  pursuits.  A  few  years  after 
wards,  he  was  sent  abroad,  visiting  the  Island  of  Ma 
deira,  and  passing  some  time  in  Great  Britain  and  Ire 
land,  and  making  what  was  then  called  the  "  grand  tour" 
of  the  Continent.  He  married,  as  appears  by  Sir  Bernard 
Burke's  "  Visitation  of  Seats  and  Arms  "  (where  an  ac 
count  of  the  family  is  given,  vol.  i.,  p.  32),  "  Rebecca 
daughter  of  William  Mcllvaine,  of  Burlington,  in  New 
Jersey,  M.D.,"  and  died  at  his  country  residence  near 
Philadelphia,  January  7,  1821.  A  son  of  Mr.  Wallace 
graduated  at  Princeton  in  1833,  and  an  only  surviving  son, 
Ellerslie  Wallace,  M.D.,  a  well-known  physician  of  Phila 
delphia,  is  now  a  Professor  in  one  of  the  principal  medi 
cal  colleges  in  that  city. 

[*7«] 


1794- 

Thomas  M.  Bayly,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  entered 
into  public  life  in  1798,  and  continued  therein  until  1830. 
He  served  in  both  branches  of  the  Virginia  Legislature, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Conven 
tion  of  1830.  From  1813  to  1815,  he  was  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States.  It  was  said  of  Mr. 
Bayly  that  he  never  lost  an  election.  He  died  in  1834. 

James  M.  Broom  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
Delaware,  from  1805  to  1807.  He  died  in  1850. 

George  Washington  Campbell  entered  the  pro 
fession  of  the  law.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
Tennessee  from  1803  to  1809,  serving  during  the  two  last 
terms  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means. 
He  was  afterwards  appointed  Judge  of  the  United  States 
District  Court  of  Tennessee.  In  1811,  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  Senate,  but  resigned  on  being  appoint 
ed  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  1814.  The  following 
year  he  resumed  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  and  served  till 
1818,  when  he  was  appointed  Minister  to  Russia,  where 
he  remained  until  1821.  He  died  February  7,  1848. 

Edmund  Elmendorf  acted  as  a  tutor  for  several 
months  after  graduating.  He  studied  law  and  was  ad 
mitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jer 
sey,  at  the  September  Term,  1799;  and  as  a  Counsellor 
at  the  May  Term,  1800.  Mr.  Elmendorf  removed  to  the 
City  of  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  practice.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  Clerk  in  Chancery.  He  died  in 
1856. 

[272] 


i794- 

Nicholas  Everett  was  a  nephew  of  the  wife  of  Wal 
ter  Minto,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philos 
ophy  in  the  College  at  Princeton.  He  studied  law  and 
practiced  in  New  York  City.  He  was  at  one  time  a 
Justice  of  one  of  the  City  Courts.  Mr.  Everett  was  a 
laborious,  active  man,  but  not  at  all  brilliant. 

William  B.  Ewing  became  a  Physician.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  and  at  one 
time  Speaker  of  the  Lower  House.  He  died  in  1866. 

James  Gr.  Force  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York,  November  30,  1796,  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
New  Providence,  New  Jersey.  He  was  dismissed  from 
this  charge  October  6,  1802.  He  died  in  1849. 

Moore  Furman  was  a  son  of  Moore  Furman,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  He  entered 
no  profession,  and  died  at  Lawrenceville,  New  Jersey, 
April  1 8,  1804. 

John  White  Furman,  a  brother  of  the  above,  after 
his  graduation,  resided  on  a  farm  at  Pittstown,  Hunter- 
don  County,  New  Jersey.  He  was  killed  by  falling  from 
his  horse.  He  died  April  28,  1802.  It  was  no  doubt  the 
intention  of  the  two  brothers  to  follow  agriculture,  as 
their  father  was  a  large  landed  proprietor,  but  their 
premature  death  defeated  their  plans. 

Richard  M.  Green  was  a  brother  of  Charles  D.  Green 
of  the  class  of  1787.  He  never  entered  a  profession,  but 
followed  the  bent  of  his  inclinations  in  agricultural  pur 
suits.  He  died  in  1853. 

John  Sylvanus  Hiester,  son  of  Joseph  and  Eliza 
beth  Hiester,  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania, 
July  28,  1794.    He  began  the  study  of  law  with  Attorney- 
General  Bradford,  but  upon  the  death  of  that  eminent 
18  [  273  ] 


1794- 

lawyer  in  1795,  he  passed  into  the  office  of  Jared  Inger- 
soll,  under  whose  direction  he  finished  that  study.  Mr. 
Hiester  never  practiced  law,  but  upon  Thomas  McKean 
becoming  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  appointed 
Prothonotary  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  Clerk  of  the 
Criminal  Court  of  Berks  County.  He  held  this  position 
for  nine  years.  For  many  years  he  was  Cashier  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank  of  Reading.  He  died  March  7,  1849. 

Thomas  Yardley  How  studied  law,  and  was  ad 
mitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jer 
sey  in  May,  1799.  A  few  years  later,  he  took  orders  in 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  for  a  time  Rector  of 
Grace  Church  in  the  City  of  New  York.  He  had  a  share 
in  the  celebrated  Church  Controversy  with  Hobart,  Linn, 
Beasley,  Mason,  Miller  and  others,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century. 

In  1812,  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  Columbia  College,  New  York.  It  is  said 
that  Dr.  How  afterwards  relinquished  the  ministry,  and 
returned  to  the  law,  removing  to  one  of  the  Western 
States,  where  he  probably  died. 

Holloway  Whitefield  Hunt  received  license  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  about  1792,  and  on 
the  i /th  of  June,  1795,  was  ordained  and  settled  as  pastor 
of  the  Churches  at  Newton  and  Hardiston,  New  Jersey. 
In  1804,  he  removed  to  Hunterdon  County,  and  took 
charge  of  the  United  Churches  of  Kingwood,  Bethlehem 
and  Alexandria.  He  was  a  tall,  portly  man,  of  a  very 
fair  complexion,  and  in  later  years  his  hair  white  with 
age.  He  was  a  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  in  his  prime  was 
a  popular  preacher.  His  manners  were  bland  and  at 
tractive,  and  he  had  the  faculty  of  attaching  the  people 
of  his  charge  very  strongly  to  him.  In  the  latter  years 
of  his  life,  Mr.  Hunt  gave  up  the  active  duties  "of  the 
ministry  on  account  of  increasing  infirmities.  He  died 
in  Hunterdon  County,  New  Jersey,  in  1858. 

[2741 


1794- 

Titus  Hutchinsoii.  I  presume  that  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  where  he  practiced  law 
and  rose  to  distinction.  In  October,  1825,  he  was  ap 
pointed  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  in 
which  position  he  remained  until  1830,  when  he  was  ap 
pointed  Chief-Justice. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  died  in  1857. 

Henry  Kollock,  a  son  of  Shepard  Kollock,  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  New  Jersey,  spent  three  years  following-  his 
graduation  at  his  father's  house,  reviewing  his  college 
studies.  In  1797  he  was  appointed  tutor,  John  Henry 
Hobart  being  his  colleague,  between  whom  and  Kollock 
there  sprang  up  a  most  intimate  and  ardent  friendship, 
which  lasted  during  life.  At  this  period  there  was  in  the 
college  a  Literary  Association  called  the  "  Belles  Lettres 
Society,"  consisting  of  the  officers  of  the  college  and  the 
resident  graduates.  They  met  once  in  two  weeks,  and 
the  exercises  consisted  in  reading  an  essay,  followed  with 
remarks  or  criticisms  by  the  members,  and  then  a  debate 
on  some  political,  literary,  moral  or  religious  question. 
The  subject  was  selected  several  weeks  before  it  was 
taken  up,  and  all  were  expected  to  come  prepared.  On 
one  of  these  occasions,  the  subject  selected  was  the  ex 
clusive  right  of  Bishops,  in  the  Episcopal  sense  of  the 
term,  to  ordain  to  the  office  of  the  gospel  ministry  ;  and 
our  two  young  tutors  were  the  combatants.  Great  in 
terest  was  excited,  not  only  by  the  nature  of  the  subject, 
but  also  by  the  known  talents  of  the  debaters.  Each,  of 
course,  took  the  side  of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged, 
and  brought  all  his  ability  to  the  defence  of  it.  It  was 
Saturday  afternoon,  and  many  of  the  under-grad nates, 
who  were  not  permitted  to  enter  the  room,  abandoning 
their  usual  walks  and  amusements,  collected,  some  around 
the  library  door,  where  the  debate  was  held,  and  others 
on  the  outside  of  the  building,  so  that,  through  the  open 
windows,  they  might  catch  something  of  what  was  said. 
There  they  stood  fixed  for  two  or  three  hours.  The  de- 


1794- 

bate  was  ably  and  eloquently  conducted  on  both  sides ; 
and  the  Presbyterians  who  were  present  did  not  think 
their  cause  suffered  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Kollock.  To  the 
honour  of  the  disputants,  this  exciting  debate  did  not,  for 
a  moment,  interrupt  their  kindly  feelings  towards  each 
other.  In  1800,  Mr.  Kollock  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  still  holding  his  position 
as  tutor,  and  preaching  to  the  congregation  in  Princeton, 
where  his  eloquence  made  a  profound  impression. 

After  leaving  the  college,  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Elizabethtown,  where  he  remain 
ed  for  three  years.  His  fame  was  not  confined  to  his 
own  State.  He  received  calls  from  many  important 
churches.  In  1803,  the  Trustees  of  the  College  appointed 
him  Professor  of  Theology,  and  the  Congregation  of 
Princeton  invited  him  to  be  their  pastor.  Accordingly, 
in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  he  returned  to  Princeton  in 
the  double  character  of  professor  and  pastor.  But  he 
was  not  permitted  to  remain  here  long.  After  repeated 
solicitations,  he  was  prevailed  on  to  accept  a  call  from 
the  Independent  Presbyterian  Church  in  Savannah, 
Georgia,  and  in  1806  he  removed  to  his  new  field  of  la 
bour. 

In  1810  he  was  called  to  the  Presidency  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Georgia,  which  he  declined.  While  in  Sa 
vannah  his  labours  were  abundant,  especially  among  those 
ill  with  the  yellow  fever ;  and  although  he  was  not  at 
tacked  by  the  fever,  yet  his  health  finally  gave  way,  and 
he  was  compelled,  for  a  time,  to  leave  his  charge,  making 
a  tour  through  Europe.  On  his  return  in  1817  he  entered 
again  into  the  same  exhausting  course  of  labour  ;  but  in 
less  than  two  years  he  broke  down  again,  and  died  De 
cember,  29,  1819. 

Dr.  James  W.  Alexander  says  of  Mr.  Kollock  that  he 
was  "  one  of  the  most  ornate  yet  vehement  orators  whom 
our  country  has  produced." 

A  collection  of  Dr.  Kollock's  Sermons  was  published  in  Savannah  in 
1822,  in  4  volumes  8vo. 

[276] 


1794- 

Paul  Paulisoii,  after  graduating,  studied  theology, 
intending  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  but  he  was  never  ordained.  He  passed  his  whole 
life  in  Hackensack,  New  Jersey,  his  native  town,  where 
he  died  in  1832.  Two  of  his  sons  graduated  at  Prince 
ton,  one  in  1822  and  the  other  in  1834. 

Henry  Polhemus,  a  native  of  Somerset  County, 
New  Jersey,  was  licensed  by  the  Classis  of  New  York 
in  1798,  and  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Churches  of  Harlingen  and  Nashanic,  New  Jersey,  in 
1798,  where  he  remained  until  1809,  when  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Church  at  English  Neighbourhood,  New 
Jersey.  Mr.  Polhemus  continued  in  this  charge  until 
1813,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Shawan- 
gunck,  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1816. 

Edwin  Reese  was  probably  the  son  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Reese  of  the  class  of  1768.  After  his  graduation,  he  re 
turned  to  the  South,  and  became  Principal  of  a  flourish 
ing  Academy  in  Pendleton  District,  South  Carolina. 

John  N.  Simpson  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Penn 
sylvania,  April  6,  1770.  After  graduating,  he  married  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Wiggins,  of  Princeton,  and  settled  upon 
a  farm  near  that  place.  After  a  few  years  he  removed 
to  Baskingridge,  and  represented  the  County  of  Somer 
set  in  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey.  In  1811  he  re 
moved  to  New  Brunswick  and  entered  largely  into  mer 
cantile  business,  having  a  partner  in  a  large  house  in 
New  York.  He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature, 
and  represented  Middlesex  County  for  a  number  of  years ; 
he  was  also  at  one  time  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  that  county,  and  was  for  a  long  time  Cashier  of 
the  Bank  of  New  Brunswick.  Mr.  Simpson  was  a  great 
friend  of  education  and  internal  improvement.  Perhaps 
no  person  in  the  State  did  more  to  develope  the  re- 


i794- 

sources  of  the  State.  When  the  project  was  first  spoken 
of,  for  a  canal  to  unite  the  Delaware  and  Raritan,  by 
Mr.  Simpson,  in  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  it 
was  considered  impracticable.  He  drew  up  the  first 
bill  that  was  ever  presented  for  a  charter  for  a  com 
pany  to  make  the  said  canal,  but  did  not  live  to  see  it 
completed. 

It  was  owing  mainly  to  his  influence  that  the  State 
of  New  Jersey  was  stimulated  to  take  the  part  she 
did  in  promoting  the  cause  of  common  school  educa 
tion. 

A  few  years  before  his  death,  Mr.  Simpson  edited  a 
paper  in  Princeton  called  the  Princeton  Courier.  He 
was  a  great  friend  of  his  Alma  Mater,  and,  after  his 
death,  there  was  found  among  his  papers  a  subscrip 
tion-list  in  behalf  of  rebuilding  the  college,  drawn 
up  by  him,  while  it  was  in  flames,  and  •  headed 
by  him  with  a  subscription  of  five  hundred  dollars; 
and  it  is  said  that,  before  the  flames  were  extin 
guished,  he  had  a  subscription-list  of  five  thousand 
dollars. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  New  Brunswick.  He  died  in  Princeton,  May  13, 
1832. 

John  Brown  Slemons  received  his  license  to  preach 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  in  1797,  and  was 
installed  pastor  of  Monokin  and  Wicomico  Churches 
in  Maryland  in  June,  1799.  He  remained  in  this  charge 
until  1821,  when  he  retired  to  a  farm  which  he  owned, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  retirement.  Mr. 
Slemons  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  powers,  and 
was  said  to  have  been  a  Boanerges.  He  was  pointed 
and  often  blunt.  His  delivery  was  not  esteemed  equal 
to  his  sermonizing  powers.  An  anecdote  of  Benjamin 
Dashiel,  an  Episcopalian  and  lawyer,  contemporary  of  Mr. 
Slemons,  who  set  a  pretty  high  estimate  upon  his  own 
oratorical  powers,  is  a  very  good  illustration  of  the  esti- 


1794- 

mate  put  upon  Mr.  Slemons's  Sermons.  Mr.  Dashiel  is 
handed  down  to  have  said,  "  Let  Parson  Slemons  write 
the  sermon,  let  me  preach  it,  and  big  Billy  Handy  set 
the  Psalm,  and  we  will  convert  the  devil.". 

John  Bradford  Wallace  was  a  brother  of  Joshua 
M.  Wallace  of  the  preceding  class.  He  was  born  at 
Ellerslie,  his  father's  seat,  August  17,  1778.  His  course 
at  Princeton  was  manly  and  exemplary.  He  was  inva 
riably  diligent,  patient  and  accurate  in  his  studies.  The 
vigour  and  precision  of  his  memory  was  one  of  the  re 
sults  of  his  regularity  and  care,  and,  in  connection  with 
a  delightful  voice  and  enunciation,  was  such  that  Presi 
dent  Smith  used  often  to  say,  "  It  was  indeed  a  pleasure 
to  hear  Mr.  Wallace's  recitations." 

Mr.  Wallace  was  admitted  to  the  Pennsylvania  Bar  in 
1797  ind  before  long  was  acknowledged  to  stand  in  its 
most  dignified  ranks.  Strength,  discrimination  and  di 
rectness  were  the  characteristics  of  his  understanding. 
In  1822  Mr.  Wallace  fixed  his  residence  in  Meadville, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  soon  elected  to  the  Legislature 
of  the  State,  which  position  he  held  for  three  successive 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  a  warm  and  active  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  His  piety  was  bright  and  remarkably 
practical.  A  fervid  and  delightful  sentiment,  it  inspired 
in  his  own  heart  .both  love  and  confidence.  After  his 
graduation  Mr.  Wallace  assumed  the  middle  name  of 
Bradford,  after  his  mother's  family.  He  died  in  Phila 
delphia,  January  7,  1837. 

William  R.  Williamson  was  admitted  an  Attor 
ney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the 
May  Term,  1799,  and  practiced  in  Essex  County,  New 
Jersey. 

John  R.  Witherspoon  was  from  South  Carolina. 
He  studied  medicine  and  practiced  in  his  native  State, 

[279] 


1794- 

but  afterwards  removed  to  Alabama,  where  he  died  in 
1850.  He  published  a  description  of  a  Latin  Bible  in  his 
possession.  Dr.  Witherspoon  was  widely  known  and 
highly  respected  throughout  the  South. 

[280] 


1795- 

James  Agiiew  was  the  son  of  Daniel  Agnew,  an 
Irishman,  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Prince 
ton,  and  for  some  time  Steward  of  the  College.  After 
graduating,  Mr.  Agnew  studied  medicine,  and  was  rising 
to  prominence  as  a  physician  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
when  he  died  in  1800. 

John  A.  Boyd  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  an  At 
torney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  No 
vember  Term,  1799,  and  settled  at  Hackensack,  Bergen 
County,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Boyd  was  Surrogate  of  Ber 
gen  County  from  November,  1803,  till  his  death  in  1828. 

David  Comfort  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  in  1798,  and  soon  after  became  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Kingston,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  laboured  during  a  long  life,  honoured  and  beloved  by 
all.  From  1816  until  his  death  in  1853,  he  was  a  Trustee 
of  the  College. 

Silas  Condit  was  a  native  of  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
He  represented  New  Jersey  in  Congress  from  1831  to 
1833  ;  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Convention  which 
formed  the  Constitution  in  1844.  Mr.  Condit  was  a  man 
highly  esteemed,  and  held  offices  of  trust  in  his  native 
town.  He  died  November  29,  1861. 

George  R.  Cuthbert  belonged  to  an  influential 
family  in  Canada.  After  graduating,  he  returned  to 
Canada. 

[281] 


'795- 

Josiah  Harrison,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  after  his 
graduation  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at 
the  February  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jer 
sey,  in  1800.  He  practiced  for  many  years  in  Gloucester 
and  Burlington  Counties,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years 
Law  Reporter  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  died  in  1865. 

Mr.  Harrison  published:  Laws  of  New  Jersey,  1820-1833;  Camden, 
1833,  8vo.  New  Jersey  Supreme  Court  Reports,  1837-1842,  4  vols.,  8vo, 
1839-1843. 

Samuel  Hayes  was  from  Newark,  New  Jersey.  He 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  R.  B.  Rodgers  of  the  class 
of  1775.  In  1799,  he  was  appointed  "  Apothecary  of  the 
New  York  Hospital."  In  1800,  he  sailed  to  India  as  Sur 
geon  of  the  ship  "  Swan."  In  1803,  he  was  in  the  drug 
business  in  New  York  for  a  few  months,  and  in  1804,  he 
became  associated  with  Dr.  Cyrus  Pierson  in  the  prac 
tice  of  medicine  in  Newark,  New  Jersey.  Dr.  Hayes 
was  a  man  of  acknowledged  skill.  He  was  a  good  scholar 
and  faithful  to  the  interests  of  his  patients.  He  ever 
maintained  a  high  Christian  character.  He  died  July  30, 
1839. 

Elbert  Herring,  the  sole  living  representative  of  the 
graduates  of  the  eighteenth  century,  bears  about  with  him 
the  burden  and  the  honours  of  ninety-five  years.  He  is  still 
sound  in  body  and  in  mind.  He  was  born  the  year  after 
Independence  was  declared.  He  entered  college  when 
Dr.  Witherspoon  was  President,  and  was  present  at  his 
funeral  the  next  year,  and  the  impression  made  by  the 
appearance  of  that  noble  form  as  it  lay  in  the  coffin,  has 
never  been  obliterated.  Seventy-three  years  after  that 
event,  Judge  Herring  sat  with  his  classmate  Joseph  War 
ren  Scott  upon  the  stage,  and  witnessed  the  inauguration 
of  another  eminent  Scotchman,  who  like  his  great  com 
peer,  has  infused  new  life  into  the  venerable  body  of  our 
beloved  Alma  Mater. 

After  graduating,  Mr.  Herring  entered  upon  the  prac- 


rice  of  the  law  in  New  York,  his  native  city.  In  1805,  ne 
was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Marine  Court,  which  posi 
tion  he  held  for  three  years ;  and  was  again  appointed  to 
the  same  office  a  few  years  later.  Judge  Herring  was  a 
confidential  friend  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  and  was  by  him 
appointed  the  first  Register  of  the  City  and  County  of 
New  York.  In  1831,  he  was  appointed  by  General  Jack 
son  the  first  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  which  posi 
tion  he  held  for  about  five  years.  Judge  Herring  long 
since  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life,  but  not  from 
the  public  duties  of  a  living  Christian.  His  seat  in  the 
church  and  the  prayer-meeting  is  seldom  vacant. 

Patrick  Houstcmn  was  a  son  of  Richard  Houstoun 
of  Georgia,  and  was  a  grandson  of  Sir  Patrick  Houstoun, 
and  a  nephew  of  Governor  John  Houstoun  of  Georgia. 
After  graduating,  he  returned  to  Georgia. 

George  W.  Woodruff  of  the  class  of  1783,  married  a 
sister  of  Patrick  Houstoun. 

Richard  Rayhold  Keene  was  a  native  of  Dorches 
ter  County,  Maryland.  While  in  college  he  was  a  schol 
ar  of  respectable  standing.  After  graduating,  he  estab 
lished  himself  as  a  lawyer  in  Baltimore,  and  married  the 
daughter  of  Luther  Martin  of  the  class  of  1766.  Mr. 
Keene  afterwards  removed  to  New  Orleans,  and  made 
quite  a  figure  in  the  political  world  as  District  Attorney 
of  the  United  States  for  the  Orleans  Territory,  and  was 
a  conspicuous  character  in  the  disputes  which  grew  out 
of  the  Burr  Conspiracy.  He  afterwards  resided  several 
years  in  Spain,  where,  during  the  war  with  Napoleon,  he 
bore  the  rank  of  Colonel  in  the  Spanish  service.  Mr. 
Keene's  second  wife  was  a  native  of  Spain.  The  life  of 
Mr.  Keene  was  checkered  by  many  and  singular  turns  of 
adverse  and  prosperous  fortune,  and  he  closed  his  career 
possessed  of  little  of  this  world's  wealth. 

He  died  at  St.  Louis  while  on  a  visit  to  Colonel  Rich 
ard  R.  Keene,  in  1839. 

[283] 


Mr.  Keene  published  :  "  A  Memorial  to  the  Spanish  Government,"  which 
made  some  noise  at  the  time. 


Eleazer  W.  Keyes  returned  to  his  home  in  Connec 
ticut  after  graduation,  and  became  quite  prominent  as  a 
lawyer.  Mr.  Keyes  married  the  daughter  of  General 
Ethan  Allen  of  Revolutionary  fame. 

Elias  Riggs  received  his  license  to  preach  from  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York  in  March,  1802,  and  for  some 
time  supplied  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Perth  Amboy, 
New  Jersey.  On  the  2d  of  August  he  was  ordained.  In 
the  month  of  October,  1806,  he  removed  to  New  Provi 
dence,  New  Jersey,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  in  that  place,  June  10,  1807.  He  con 
tinued  in  this  pastoral  charge  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He 
died  February  25,  1825.  Mr.  Riggs  was  eminently  a 
godly  man  and  a  faithful  pastor,  and  commanded  by  his 
exemplary  life  and  conversation,  the  affections  of  his 
people  and  respect  of  the  community.  He  entailed  upon 
the  world  a  well-trained  family  that  does  honour  to  his 
name,  and  has  done  good  to  the  Church  and  the  world. 
Mr.  Riggs  left  a  family  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
both  of  his  sons  becoming  Presbyterian  ministers,  the 
younger  one  being  the  distinguished  missionary  at  Con 
stantinople,  the  Rev.  Elias  Riggs,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Joseph  Warren  Scott,  a  son  of  Dr.  Moses  Scott  of 
New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  after  graduating,  studied 
medicine  for  a  short  time  with  his  father,  and  also  paid 
some  attention  to  theology,  a  science  congenial  to  his  in 
tellect  and  early  education.  On  one  occasion  he  attended 
court  in  New  York  and  became  greatly  interested  in  the 
able  argument  of  one  of  the  lawyers,  and  this  was  the  in 
centive  that  led  him  to  adopt  the  law  as  his  profession. 
He  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
New  Jersey,  at  the  February  Term,  1801,  and  a  Counsel 
lor,  February,  1804,  and  was  called  Sergeant  at  Law,  at 

[284] 


'795- 

the  February  Term,  1816.  In  criminal  cases  he  showed 
great  power  and  almost  resistless  eloquence.  He  argued 
his  last  case  at  the  age  of  eighty,  and  spoke  for  several 
hours  without  much  weariness,  considering  his  years. 
Hon.  Hamilton  Fish,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United 
States,  on  hearing  of  his  death  writes  to  a  friend,  "  Ge 
nial  and  bright  in  intellect  and  wit,  four  score  and  ten 
years  had  not,  when  last  I  met  him,  quenched  the  ardour 
of  his  warm  and  impulsive  nature ;  and  I  shall  ever  re 
member  Colonel  Warren  Scott  as  one  of  the  most  attract 
ive  talkers  and  agreeable  companions  whom  it  has  been 
my  fortune  to  meet."  Colonel  Scott  died  April  27,  1871, 
having,  with  the  Hon.  Elbert  Herring  of  the  same  class, 
long  outlived  all  his  contemporaries. 

John  Sergeant,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  was  a  son 
of  Jonathan  Dickinson  Sergeant  of  the  class  of  1762,  and 
a  great  grandson  of  President  Dickinson.  After  leaving 
college,  Mr.  Sergeant  was  for  a  short  time  a  clerk  in  a 
mercantile  house,  but  this  not  suiting  his  tastes,  he  stud 
ied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1799.  For  several 
years  he  was  Prosecutor  for  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn'a. 
Mr.  Sergeant  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Represent 
atives  from  1815  to  1823,  from  1827  to  1829,  and  from 
1837  to  1842.  He  was  especially  famous  for  his  part  in 
the  great  Missouri  Compromise  of  1820.  He  was  selected 
by  President  Adams  to  represent  the  United  States  in 
the  Panama  Congress.  The  measures  of  international 
law  which  were  proposed  to  be  settled  in  that  Congress, 
were  deemed  so  important  that  Mr.  Clay,  the  Secretary 
of  State,  had  filled  eighty  pages  of  instructions  to  Mr. 
Sergeant  on  the  subject.  In  1832  he  was  a  candidate  for 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States  on  the  same  ticket 
with  Mr.  Clay.  In  1840  President  Harrison  tendered  to 
him  the  mission  to  England,  which  he  declined.  Mr. 
Sergeant  was  for  half  a  century  known  and  honoured  for 
his  extraordinary  ability  in  his  profession  of  the  law,  for 
his  habitual  courtesy,  his  liberal  fairness,  and  his  un- 


1795- 

doubted  integrity.  In  the  cause  of  charity  he  was  never 
appealed  to  in  vain ;  and  for  many  years  before  his  death 
took  an  active  interest  in  all  the  public  affairs  of  his  na 
tive  city.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Laws  from  Union  College  in  1822,  from  Dickinson 
College  in  1826,  and  from  Harvard  in  1844. 

Mr.  Sergeant's  Select  Speeches  were  published  in  1832;  and  a  number 
of  Addresses  appeared  separately. 

Edward  Darrell  Smith  studied  medicine  and  be 
came  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Mineralogy  in  the  Col 
lege  of  South  Carolina.  He  died  near  St.  Louis,  Mis 
souri,  August  17,  1819. 

Dr.  Smith  published,  Translation  of  Desault's  Surgical  Works,  two  vol 
umes,  8vo.  1814.  Inaugural  Dissertation  on  the  Circulation;  Philadel 
phia,  1800. 

John  Witherspooii  Smith,  a  son  of  President 
Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  studied  law  and  removed  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  became  Judge  of  the  United  States  Dis 
trict  Court  of  St.  Louis. 

Robert  Johnstone  Taylor  was  born  at  Belfast, 
Ireland,  in  December,  1777.  He  was  the  son  of  Captain 
Jesse  Taylor  and  Elizabeth  Johnstone.  On  the  2gth  of 
September,  1779,  his  father,  with  his  entire  family,  con 
sisting  of  his  wife  and  eight  children,  of  which  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  then  not  two  years  old,  was  the  youngest, 
embarked  in  a  vessel,  of  which  he  was  the  sole  owner, 
mounting  fourteen  guns,  bound  for  Philadelphia.  After 
a  long  and  stormy  passage  of  thirteen  weeks,  and  being 
compelled  to  throw  ten  of  his  guns  overboard,  his  ship, 
by  stress  of  weather,  was  driven  ashore  at  the  mouth  of 
James  River,  in  Virginia,  got  amongst  the  ice,  and  with 
a  cargo  of  salt,  then  estimated  to  be  worth  ten  "  hard  dol 
lars"  per  bushel,  was  totally  lost.  After  the  loss  of  his 
vessel,  he  went  with  his  family  to  Williamsburg,  and  re 
mained  there  until  May,  1780,  when  he  removed  to  Alex 
andria. 

1*86] 


'795- 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  prepared  for  college  by 
the  celebrated  Dr.  James  McWhirr,  who  predicted  for 
his  pupil  a  brilliant  career.  Mr.  Taylor  graduated  at  the 
head  of  his  class,  and  immediately  commenced  the  study 
of  law  at  Alexandria,  in  the  office  of  Colonel  Charles 
Simms,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1798.  On  the  fly 
leaf  of  his  note  book,  under  the  date  of  November,  1795, 
in  his  own  handwriting,  is  the  following  quotation  from 
"  Johnson's  London  :" 

"  But  thou,  should  tempting  villany  present, 
All  Marlbro  hoarded,  or  all  Villiers  spent, 
Turn  from  the  glittering  bribe  thy  scornful  eye, 
Nor  sell  for  gold  what  gold  can  never  buy  ; 
The  peaceful  slumber,  self-approving  day, 
Unsullied  fame  and  conscience  ever  gay." 

Practicing  on  the  principles  inculcated  in  these  noble 
lines  through  a  long,  useful  and  active  life,  he  secured 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  every  one  who  knew  him, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  his 
profession,  side  by  side  with  those  great  Virginia  lawyers 
of  his  day,  Chapman  Johnson,  Henry  St.  George  Tucker, 
Benjamin  Watkins  Leigh,  and  Robert  Stannard.  From 
the  year  1813  to  1830  his  practice  was  large  in  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States,  but  he  was  compelled 
to  relinquish  it,  his  practice  in  the  courts  of  his  State 
having  become  so  extensive  and  onerous  as  to  leave  him 
no  time  for  any  thing  else.  At  the  Bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  he  ranked  as  a  lawyer  with  Pinckney,  Wirt,  Wal 
ter  Jones,  and  his  class-mate,  John  Sergeant  of  Philadel 
phia,  whom  he  frequently  encountered  in  the  argument 
of  important  cases,  and  who  all  recognized  in  him  "  a 
foeman  worthy  of  their  steel."  It  was  after  an  able  argu 
ment  in  one  of  these  cases,  that  Chief-Justice  Marshall 
paid  him  the  highest  compliment  probably  ever  paid  to 
a  lawyer,  when  he  said  that  he  wTas  the  only  lawyer  he 
had  ever  known  in  all  his  experience  at  the  Bar  and  on 
the  Bench,  who  never  said  a  word  too  much  or  a  word 
too  little  for  the  cause  he  advocated.  Mr.  Taylor  died 

[287] 


1795- 

at  Alexandria  on  the  4th  of  October,  1840,  universally  be 
loved,  esteemed  and  lamented. 

A  son  of  Mr.  Taylor  graduated  in  the  class  of  1835,  and 
is  now  an  eminent  lawyer  in  Alexandria. 

Abraham  Ten  Eyke  was  from  Albany,  New  York, 
to  which  city  he  returned  after  graduation  and  com 
menced  the  practice  of  law. 

James  Tiltoii  was  a  native  of  Delaware,  and  a  son 
of  Nehemiah  Tilton,  a  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  and  otherwise  employed  during  his  life  in  govern 
ment  service.  After  his  graduation  he  studied  medicine 
and  commenced  practice  in  Wilmington.  He  afterwards 
removed  to  the  western  country. 

Matthew  G.  Wallace  studed  theology  with  the 
Rev.  Nathan  Grier,  and  removed  immediately  to  Ohio. 
Mr.  Wallace  was  among  the  first  Presbyterian  Ministers 
who  settled  in  Ohio.  About  the  year  1802  he  became 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Cincinnati, 
which  had  been  founded  in  1790  by  Rev.  David  Rice  of 
the  class  of  1761.  Afterwards  he  preached  at  Springfield, 
Hamilton  and  other  places  in  Ohio.  He  was  in  the 
ministry  nearly  sixty  years,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  resided  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  without  charge, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty,  August  12,  1854. 

Clayton  Wright  was  a  native  of  Queen  Ann  County, 
Maryland,  and  was  killed  early  in  life  in  a  duel. 

[288] 


1796. 

William  T.  Anderson,  a  Jcrseyman  by  birth,  stud 
ied  law,  and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the  September  Term,  1801.  Mr. 
Anderson  pursued  his  profession  in  Sussex  County,  New 
Jersey,  for  many  years.  He  was  a  man  of  high  standing 
and  character,  and  of  considerable  legal  attainments. 
He  died  in  1850. 

Henry  Axtell,  a  son  of  Henry  Axtell,  a  farmer  and 
a  revolutionary  officer,  was  born  at  Mendham,  New 
Jersey,  June  9,  1773.  After  his  graduation,  he  taught 
school  for  several  years  at  Morristown  and  Mendham. 
In  1804  he  removed  to  Geneva,  New  York,  where  he  was 
for  several  years  more  at  the  head  of  a  flourishing  school. 
On  the  ist  of  November,  1810,  he  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Geneva,  and,  after  preaching  in 
various  places,  he  was,  in  1812,  installed  as  colleague 
pastor  with  the  Rev.  Jedediah  Chapman,  at  Geneva. 
Here  he  remained  during  his  life.  The  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Middlebury 
College  in  1823.  Dr.  Axtell  was  a  bold  and  faithful 
preacher,  and  sometimes  very  powerful.  He  was  both 
practical  and  argumentative,  and  eminently  scriptural  in 
his  preaching. 

In  stature,  he  was  rather  above  the  average,  of  a  broad, 
athletic  form.  He  died  in  the  utmost  peace,  February 
11,  1849. 

Dr.  Axtell  published  a  Sermon  preached  at  the  ordination  of  Julius 
Steele,  1816. 

George  C.  Barber  was  admitted  an  Attorney  of  the 

19  [289] 


1796. 

Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the  February  Term, 
1801.  He  practiced  in  Elizabethtown,  and  was  for  some 
time  Clerk  of  the  Borough.  Mr.  Barber  was  an  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Governor  Aaron  Ogden  of  the  class  of  1773.  He  died 
in  1828. 

John  Macpherson  Berrien.  The  ancestors  of 
Mr.  Berrien  were  Huguenots.  His  grandfather  was 
John  Berrien,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  New  Jersey.  The  father  of  Mr.  Berrien  removed  in 
early  life  to  Georgia,  and  during  the  Revolutionary 
struggle  was  an  officer  in  the  American  Army,  and  was 
very  conspicuous  at  the  Battle  of  Monmouth.  His 
mother  was  a  sister  of  John  Macpherson  of  the  class  of 
1766. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  New  Jersey 
during  a  temporary  residence  of  his  parents,  August  23, 
1781.  After  graduating,  he  returned  to  Georgia,  and 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Joseph  Clay,  a  graduate  of  the 
class  of  1784,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  before  he  was 
eighteen.  He  now  applied  himself  to  his  profession  with 
great  industry.  His  books  were  his  delight,  and  to  his 
studious  habits,  in  the  early  stages  of  his  legal  career, 
may  doubtless  be  attributed  the  great  success  which  he 
afterwards  met  with,  and  which  placed  him  in  time 
among  the  first  lawyers  in  America.  In  November,  1809, 
he  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Eastern  District  of  the 
State  of  Georgia,  and  the  following  year  Judge  of  the 
same  district.  This  office  he  held  for  twelve  years,  being 
re-elected  every  three  years.  During  this  period,  the 
war  of  1812  occurred,  and  the  excitement  of  the  public 
mind  added,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  responsibilities  of 
his  station ;  but  he  administered  the  laws  with  prudence, 
firmness  and  impartiality. 

In  1822  and  1823  he  was  in  the  Legislature,  and  in  1824 
was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate.  During  his 
term  in  the  Senate,  there  was  not  a  subject  of  general 

[  29°] 


1796. 

interest  with  which  he  did  not  display  consummate 
knowledge.  His  speeches  were  always  listened  to  with 
profound  attention,  and  acquired  for  him  the  reputation 
of  being  one  of  the  most  gifted  orators  and  able  states 
men  in  our  country. 

In  1829  Mr.  Berrien  was  appointed  Attorney-General 
of  the  United  States,  in  consequence  of  which  he  resigned 
his  seat  in  the  Senate.  This  office  he  resigned  in  1831. 
In  1840  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate.  This  period 
will  long  be  remembered  for  the  important  and  delicate 
questions  which  agitated  the  counsels  of  the  nation.  In 
them  Mr.  Berrien  took  a  prominent  part,  and  added  to 
the  fame  he  had  already  acquired.  He  resigned  his  seat 
in  the  Senate  in  May,  1852,  and  retired  to  private  life. 
In  1830  Princeton  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws,  on  the  occasion  of  his  delivering  an  ad 
dress  before  the  literary  societies.  Mr.  Berrien  died  Jan 
uary  i,  1856. 

His  publications  consist  of  a  few  Addresses  and  Speeches. 

Elias  Boudinot  Caldwell,  a  son  of  James  Cald- 
well  of  the  class  of  1759,  was  for  many  years  Clerk  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  but  is  especially 
known  for  the  prominent  part  he  took  in  the  cause  of 
African  Colonization.  In  honour  of  him  the  managers  of 
the  Society  gave  the  name  of  Caldwell  to  a  town  in  their 
African  colony.  While  living  in  Washington,  Mr.  Cald 
well  obtained  a  license  from  the  Presbytery,  and  was  ac 
customed  to  preach  to  the  ignorant  and  degraded  in  that 
city.  He  died  in  May,  1825. 

A  Speech  of  Mr.  Caldwell's,  on  African  Colonization,  was  published  in 
1817. 

Moses  I.  Cantine  entered  college  from  the  State  of 
New  York,  and,  after  graduating,  studied  law  and  settled 
in  Catskill.  In  1 8 14  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from 
the  Middle  District,  his  colleague  from  the  same  District 
being  William  Ross  of  the  class  of  1792.  In  1820  he  be- 

['9'] 


1796. 

came  one  of  the  proprietors  and  editors  of  the  Albany 
Argus.  Mr.  Cantine  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Martin  Van 
Buren.  He  was  frank,  generous  and  kind  in  his  social 
intercourse,  and,  although  not  brilliant,  was  a  man  of 
highly  respectable  talents. 

John  Starke  Edwards  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Pier- 
pont  Edwards  of  Connecticut,  and  grandson  of  President 
Edwards.  After  graduating,  he  returned  to  New  Haven 
and  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and  attended  the  lec 
tures  at  the  law  school  of  Tapping  Reeve  at  Litchfield. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  as  Attorney  and  Counsellor 
in  1799;  and  in  the  same  year  removed  to  Ohio — to  what 
was  then  known  as  the  Western  Reserve.  In  1800,  he 
was  appointed  by  Governor  St.  Clair,  Recorder  of  Trum- 
bull  County.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  Gene 
ral  Court  of  the  Territory  North-west  of  the  Ohio  River, 
in  October  of  the  same  year.  In  1812,  he  was  commis 
sioned  as  Colonel  of  one  of  the  regiments  in  the  Fourth 
Division  of  Ohio  Militia,  then  under  command  of  Gene 
ral  Elijah  Wadsworth,  a  distinguished  Revolutionary 
patriot ;  and  after  General  Hull's  surrender  at  Detroit, 
August  15,  1812,  by  which  the  whole  north-western  fron 
tier  was  thrown  open  to  invasion*  by  the  enemy,  he  took 
an  active  part  with  other  patriotic  citizens  of  the  country 
in  concerting  measures  of  defence. 

In  October,  1812,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
Sixth  District  of  Ohio,  but  he  never  took  his  seat,  for  in 
January,  1813,  on  a  visit  to  the  army  on  the  north-west 
ern  frontier,  he  was  seized  with  camp  fever,  and  died  on 
the  29th  of  that  month. 

The  social  and  professional  standing  of  Mr.  Edwards 
was  all  that  the  most  ambitious  and  aspiring  could  de 
sire,  and  his  prospects  of  future  distinction  in  public  and 
private  life  were  bright  and  flattering  in  the  highest 
degree. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  a  man  of  fine  appearance,  and  in 
stature  about  six  feet  in  height,  stoutly  built,  of  florid 

[292] 


1796. 

complexion,  and  commanding  presence.  He  was  not  an 
easy  and  fluent  speaker,  and  therefore  not  distinguished 
as  an  advocate  ;  but  his  fine  legal  attainments,  his  can 
dour,  honourable  bearing  and  undoubted  integrity,  won 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  professional  brethren 
of  the  court  and  of  the  jury,  and  he  was  eminently  a  suc 
cessful  lawyer. 

Wilhemus  Eltiiige  received  his  license  to  preach 
in  1798,  and  from  1799  to  1850,  was  pastor  of  the  Re 
formed  Dutch  Church  at  Paramus  and  Saddle  River, 
New  Jersey,  and  other  churches  gathered  in  the  vicinity. 
Called  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-one  to  the  ministry,  he 
remained  for  fifty-one  years  in  a  single  charge  ;  at  times, 
however,  adding  to  this  a  neighbouring  congregation. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  firmness  and  decision.  It  was 
difficult  to  change  his  opinion  when  once  formed.  He 
was  a  pointed  preacher.  He  neither  courted  the  favour 
nor  feared  the  frowns  of  men.  During  the  first  three 
years  of  his  ministry,  he  was  blessed  with  a  great  revival, 
about  three  hundred  being  added  to  his  churches.  He 
was  a  ready  debater,  and  always  active  in  ecclesiastical 
bodies.  He  lived  almost  forty  years  on  a  farm  of  his  own, 
ten  miles  from  his  charge ;  and  would  start  on  Saturday 
morning,  lecture  in  some  house  in  the  evening,  preach  on 
Sabbath  morning,  and  lecture  again  in  the  evening  on  his 
way  home.  He  often  quoted  to  young  ministers,  when 
urging  them  to  diligence  in  the  Master's  work,  "  Junior- 
ies  ad  labor es  !  Seniores  ad  honores!"  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Rutgers  Col 
lege  in  1839.  He  died  in  1851. 

John  Fitzgerald,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  died 
the  year  after  his  graduation. 

Robert  M.  Forsyth  was  the  eldest  son  of  Major 
Forsyth,  the  first  Marshal  of  Georgia,  and  brother  of 
Governor  John  Forsyth  of  the  class  of  1799.  He  pro- 


1796. 

nounced  the  Valedictor}^  Oration  at  the  time  of  his  grad 
uation,  and  was  considered  the  best  public  speaker  who 
had  been  in  the  college  for  many  years,  and  he  has  not, 
perhaps,  often  been  since  surpassed.  He  was  distin 
guished  for  his  remarkable  scholarship  while  in  college, 
as  well  as  for  every  moral  grace  and  virtue.  Mr.  For- 
syth  died  of  the  yellow  fever  at  Savannah  in  the  autumn 
of  1797,  the  year  after  his  graduation. 

William  Grastoii  was  a  native  of  Newbern,  North 
Carolina.  His  father,  Dr.  Alexander  Gaston,  was  a  man 
of  letters,  and  a  determined  patriot.  Mr.  Gaston  was 
first  sent  to  the  Catholic  College  at  Georgetown,  District 
of  Columbia,  but  his  health  failing,  he  returned  home,  and 
in  1794,  entered  Princeton.  He  graduated  with  the  high 
est  honours  of  his  class.  "  The  proudest  moment  of  my 
life,"  he  once  said,  "  was  when  1  communicated  the  in 
formation  to  my  mother  that  I  had  not  only  graduated, 
but  with  honour."  And  he  has  often  been  heard  to  say, 
that  whatever  distinction  he  had  attained  in  life,  was  ow 
ing  to  her  pious  counsel  and  faithful  conduct,  Mr.  Gas- 
ton  studied  law  with  Frangois  Xavier  Martin,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1798. 

In  1800,  when  only  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  of  North  Carolina.  But  his  small 
patrimony  demanded  his  close  attention  to  his  profession, 
and  he  did  not  again  appear  in  public  life  until  1808,  when 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  of 
which  body  he  was  chosen  Speaker.  In  1813,  he  was 
elected  a  Member  of  Congress  ;  and  again  in  1815.  Here 
he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  country  by  his 
eloquence  and  manly  boldness.  At  the  end  of  his  second 
term,  he  declined  re-election,  and  devoted  himself  to  his 
profession.  In  1827,  he  was  again  returned  to  the  House 
of  Commons.  In  1834,  Mr.  Gaston  was  elected  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  North  Carolina.  In  1840,  he  was 
solicited  to  accept  the  post  of  United  States  Senator, 
but  he  declined,  and  devoted  himself  with  new  ardour  to 

[294] 


1796. 

the  duties  of  his  Judgeship.  The  manner  in  which  he 
discharged  his  important  duties  ;  his  profound  and  varied 
literature  ;  his  extensive  legal  knowledge  ;  his  severe  and 
patient  research  ;  his  polished  and  clear  composition,  ren 
der  his  opinions  not  only  monuments  of  legal  learning, 
but  models  of  elegant  literature.  He  died  January  23, 
1844.  Judge  Gaston  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws  from  Princeton,  on  the  occasion  of  his 
delivering  an  address  before  the  literary  societies  of  the 
College  in  1835  5  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1819  ;  from  Harvard  in  1826,  and  from  the  University  of 
New  York  in  1834. 

French  F.  McMulleii  was  born  in  Delaware,  and 
after  his  graduation  studied  law,  and  resided  near  Dover, 
Delaware.  He  never  became  distinguished  in  his  pro 
fession. 

John  Moody,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  after  leaving 
college,  studied  theology,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Pres 
bytery  of  Carlisle  in  1801.  He  was  soon  after  ordained 
by  the  same  Presbytery  and  settled  as  pastor  of  Middle 
Spring  Presbyterian  Church,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  re 
mained  until  his  death  in  1857.  During  the  latter  years  of 
his  life  he  was,  through  the  infirmity  of  age,  unable  to 
perform  ministerial  work. 

He  was  a  laborious,  faithful  and  successful  pastor.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Marshall 
College  in  1849. 

Henry  W.  Ogden,  a  son  of  Mathias  Ogden  of 
Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  after  graduating,  re 
moved  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  continued  until  his 
death. 

Philip  Clayton  Pendleton  was  from  Virginia. 
He  studied  law,  and  rose  to  some  eminence  in  his  profes 
sion.  He  was  the  United  States  District  Judge  for  the 

[295] 


1796. 

Western  District  of  Virginia  for  some  years.     He  died 
in  1863. 

Nathaniel  Venable,  a  brother  of  Samuel  W.  Ven- 
able  of  the  class  of  1780,  returned  to  Virginia  and  fol 
lowed  planting.  Mr.  Venable  was  one  of  the  first  Trustees 
of  Hampden  Sidney  College. 

[296] 


1797- 

William  and  Martin  Agnew  were  twins — the  sons 
of  Daniel  Agnew  of  Princeton,  and  brothers  of  James 
Agnew  of  the  class  of  1795.  William  became  insane,  but 
continued  to  reside  at  Princeton  until  his  death  at  an 
early  age.  He  wore  a  long  beard,  a  very  uncommon 
thing  in  those  days.  Martin  became  a  farmer,  and  died 
at  a  very  advanced  age  in  Hunterdon  County,  New 
Jersey,  in  1857. 

Thomas  Bayley  was  a  native  of  Somerset  County, 
Maryland.  He  represented  his  native  State  in  Congress 
from  1817  to  1823. 

Fredrick  Beasley  was  born  in  North  Carolina. 
During  his  college  course  he  contracted  an  intimate 
friendship  with  John  Henry  Hobart  and  Henry  Kollock, 
which  was  terminated  only  by  death.  After  graduating, 
Mr.  Beasley  studied  theology  with  President  Samuel 
Stanhope  Smith,  acting  at  the  same  time  as  tutor  in  the 
college.  In  1801  he  was  ordained  Deacon  by  Bishop 
Moore  of  New  York,  and  Priest  by  the  same,  in  1802. 
In  September,  1802,  he  became  Rector  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Elizabethtown,  but  the  next  spring  he  resigned 
his  charge,  and  accepted  a  call  to  the  Rectorship  of  St. 
Peter's  Church,  Albany.  He  remained  here  until  1809, 
when  he  removed  to  Baltimore  and  became  Rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  in  that  city.  In  1813,  his  health  being 
delicate,  and  feeling  the  need  of  a  position  where  lighter 
service  would  be  required,  he  resigned  his  charge  and 
accepted  the  office  of  Provost  of  the  University  of  Penn- 

[2971 


i797- 

s}Tlvania,  a  place  that  admirably  suited  his  intellectual 
tastes  and  habits,  and  its  duties  he  discharged  with  ac 
knowledged  ability  and  fidelity  for  fifteen  years.  Dr. 
Beasley  resigned  this  post  in  1828,  and  in  1829  became 
Rector  of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Trenton,  New  Jersey, 
where  he  remained  until  1836.  His  health  becoming  very 
much  impaired,  he  gave  up  his  charge  at  Trenton  and 
removed  to  Elizabethtown,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  dying  November  i,  1845.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Columbia 
College  and  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1815. 
Dr.  Beasley  was  a  man  of  slight  frame,  below  the  ordi 
nary  height,  and  was  very  easy  and  rapid  in  his  move 
ments.  He  was  remarkably  social  and  frank  in  all  his 
intercourse.  His  acquirements  in  literature  were  very 
considerable,  and  in  these  pursuits  was  his,  chief  delight. 
His  sermons  were  terse,  well  written,  and  cogent  as  to 
reasoning.  His  studies  lay  mainly  in  the  direction  of 
Mental  Philosophy.  He  had  no  relish  for  the  Scotch 
Philosophers,  but  admired  John  Locke  above  all  others. 

Dr.  Beasley  published  :  A  Discourse  before  the  Ladies'  Society,  instituted 
for  the  Relief  of  Distressed  Seamen  in  the  City  of  Albany.  1808.  Inaugu 
ral  Sermon  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore.  1810.  A  Sermon  on  Duelling. 
1811.  An  Anonymous  Pamphlet,  entitled  Serious  Reflections  addressed 
to  Episcopalians  in  Maryland,  on  the  State  of  their  Church  generally,  but 
more  particularly  on  the  Pending  Election  of  a  Suffragan  Bishop.  1813. 
A  Sermon  before  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  Pennsylvania.  1815.  Amer 
ican  Dialogues  of  the  Dead.  1815.  A  (second)  Sermon  on  Duelling.  1822. 
A  Search  of  Truth  in  the  Science  of  the  Human  Mind ;  Part  I.,  one  volume, 
8vo.  1822.  [He  left  in  MS.  Part  II.  complete.]  A  Vindication  of  the  Ar 
gument  a  priori  in  proof  of  the  Being  and  Attributes  of  God,  from  Objec 
tions  of  Dr.  Waterland.  1825.  Review  of  Brown's  Philosophy  of  the  Hu 
man  Mind.  1825.  A  Vindication  of  the  Fundamental  Principles  of  Truth 
and  Order  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  from  the  Allegations  of  Rev.  William 
E.  Channing,  D.D.  1830.  An  Examination  of  No.  90  of  the  Tracts  for  the 
Times.  1842.  Dr.  Beasley  edited  the  two  volumes  of  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope 
Smith's  Posthumous  Sermons,  and  wrote  the  Memoir  of  his  Life  prefixed 
to  the  first  volume.  He  also  contributed  largely  to  the  periodical  literature 
of  the  day. 

Richard  L.  Beatty,  a  native  of  Monmouth  County, 


1797- 

New  Jersey,  after  graduating,  studied  law,  and  was  ad 
mitted  an  Attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey 
at  the  November  Term,  1802.  Mr.  Beatty  lived  and  died 
at  Allentown,  New  Jersey. 

James  W.  Clarke  was  a  native  of  Bertie  County, 
North  Carolina.  In  1802  and  1803,  he  represented  his 
native  county  in  the  House  of  Commons ;  and  was  again 
a  member  from  Edgecombe  County  in  1811.  From  1812 
to  1814  Mr.  Clarke  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  North 
Carolina.  In  1815  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Rep 
resentatives  of  the  United  States  ;  he  served  out  his  term 
and  declined  re-election.  In  1828  he  was  appointed  Chief 
Clerk  in  the  Navy  Department  at  Washington,  which 
post  he  soon  resigned.  Mr.  Clarke  died  in  1843,  esteemed 
and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Aaron  Coe  studied  law  and  was  admitted  an  Attor 
ney  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey  at  the  Novem 
ber  Term,  1801.  He  died  in  1857. 

Daniel  Crane  was  from  Essex  County,  New  Jersey. 
In  1803  he  was  licensed  by  the  Morris  County  Presbytery, 
and  the  year  following  was  ordained  by  the  same  Pres 
bytery  and  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Chester,  New  Jersey.  He  remained  in  this  charge  until 
1808,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Fishkill, 
New  York,  June  7.  Here  he  laboured  with  great  zeal 
and  success  for  thirteen  years.  In  July,  1821,  he  took 
charge  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Waterbury, 
Connecticut,  still  retaining  his  connection  with  the  Pres 
bytery.  In  1825  he  returned  to  Fishkill  and  taught  in  a 
select  school  for  two  years,  and  then  accepted  a  call  to 
his  old  charge  in  Chester,  New  Jersey.  He  was  installed 
July  1 8,  1827,  and  continued  there  until  September  14, 
1831,  when  he  resigned.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  preaching  and  doing  good,  as  health  and  op 
portunity  permitted.  He  died  April  i,  1861. 


i797- 

Henry  Waggaman  Edwards  was  a  brother  of 
John  Starke  Edwards  of  the  class  of  1796,  and  a  grand 
son  of  President  Edwards.  He  studied  law  at  Litchfield 
under  Tapping  Reeve,  and  commenced  practice  in  New 
Haven.  He  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  1819 
to  1823,  and  United  States  Senator  from  1823  to  1827, 
and  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  of  Connecticut  from 
1828  to  1829.  In  1830  he  was  Speaker  of  the  Connecti 
cut  House  of  Representatives,  and  was  Governor  of  the 
State  in  1833,  and  from  1835  to  1838.  Upon  his  recom 
mendation  a  Geological  Survey  of  the  State  was  taken. 
Mr.  Edwards  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  from  Yale  in  1833.  He  died  July  22,  1847. 

William  Clark  Frazer,  a  native  of  White  HalL 
New  Castle  County,  Delaware,  after  graduating,  studied 
law,  and  practiced  for  some  years  in  the  City  of  New 
Castle.  Having  married  a  lady  in  Lancaster,  Pennsyl 
vania,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  that  place,  and  in  1836 
was  appointed,  by  General  Jackson,  Judge  of  the  Eastern 
District  of  Wisconsin  Territory.  He  filled  his  judgeship 
a  very  brief  period,  dying  at  Milwaukee,  October  18, 
1838,  aged  62  years. 

Abraham  Harrison,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  after 
his  graduation,  followed  agricultural  pursuits  and  resided 
in  Orange,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Harrison  was  for  many 
years  an  officer  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  lead 
ing  man  in  the  community  where  he  resided.  He  died 
in  1851. 

Thomas  Edgar  Hughes  came  to  Princeton  from 
York  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  October  17,  1798.  On  the 
27th  of  August,  1799,  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  Church  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Beaver  County, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  laboured  successfully  for  upwards 
of  thirty  years.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Wellsville, 

[  3°°] 


1797- 

Ohio,  and  was  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  that 
place  for  three  years.  He  died  May  2,  1838.  He  was  the 
first  minister  of  the  gospel  who  settled  north  of  the  Ohio 
River.  He  performed,  at  least,  two  missionary  tours  to 
the  Indians  on  the  Sandusky  River,  and  in  the  neighbour 
hood  of  Detroit. 

Alexander  S.  Kerr,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  died 
in  1798,  the  year  after  he  graduated. 

Peter  Le  Coiite  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Jedediah 
Chapman,  of  Orange,  New  Jersey,  and  afterwards  of 
Western  New  York.  He  dropped  the  name  of  Chapman 
in  order  to  preserve  the  name  of  his  mother.  He  studied 
law  as  a  profession,  and  rose  to  eminence  at  the  Bar  in 
Western  New  York.  Mr.  Le  Conte  was  for  many  years 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Ovid,  New  York. 
His  conversation  and  life  bear  witness  that  he  was  ac 
quainted  with  God,  and  lived  in  daily  communion  with 
him.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  punctual  in  the 
performance  of  duty,  and  employed  his  talents  in  the 
service  of  Christ.  He  died  September  17,  1836. 

Charles  Fenton  Mercer.  In  1798,  while  a  student 
of  law,  Mr.  Mercer  tendered  his  services  to  General 
Washington  for  the  defence  of  the  country  against  a 
threatened  invasion  by  the  French,  and  received  from 
him  a  commission  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Cavalry,  and 
soon  after  that  of  Captain,  which  he  declined,  not  intend 
ing  to  devote  his  life  to  the  military  profession.  In  1803, 
after  spending  a  year  in  Europe,  he  commenced  the  prac 
tice  of  the  law  in  Virginia,  his  native  State.  From  1810 
to  1817  he  was  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  ot 
that  State.  In  1811  he  was  again  called  to  military  ser 
vice  by  the  General  Government;  and,  in  1813,  was  ap 
pointed  aid  to  the  Governor,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier -General  of  Militia,  having  command  of  the 
forces  in  Norfolk.  In  1816,  while  in  the  Legislature,  as 


i797- 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Finance,  he  devoted  his 
time  to  the  promotion  of  internal  improvement,  and  was 
chief  supporter  of  the  measure  for  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  Canal,  and  was  appointed  President  of  the  Com 
pany.  From  1817  to  1840  he  represented  his  State  in 
Congress.  In  1853  he  visited  Europe  for  philanthropic 
motives,  and  used  his  efforts  for  the  entire  abolition  of 
the  slave  trade.  Mr.  Mercer  received  the  honorary  de 
gree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Princeton  in  1826.  He  died 
May  4,  1858. 

Edmund  Morford  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  He 
removed  to  South  Carolina  after  graduating,  and  became 
editor  of  the  Charleston  Courier.  Mr.  Morford  after 
wards  established  the  Charleston  Mercury  and  became 
its  editor.  He  was  very  prominent  as  a  political  writer. 
He  died  in  1833. 

Jacob  S.  Otto,  a  brother  of  John  C.  Otto  of  the  class 
of  1/92,  became  a  merchant  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 

Matthew  La  Rue  Perrine  belonged  to  a  large 
and  influential  family  in  Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey. 
He  studied  theology  under  Dr.  John  Woodhull,  of  Free 
hold,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  September  18,  1799.  On  the  24th  of 
June,  1800,  he  was  ordained,  and  for  four  months  acted 
as  a  Missionary  in  Western  New  York.  On  the  I5th  of 
June,  1802,  he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Bottle  Hill,  New  Jersey.  In  1809  he  made 
another  missionary  tour,  and  on  the  3ist  of  October,  1811, 
was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Spring  Street  Church,  New 
York.  Here  he  continued  till  the  summer  of  1820,  when, 
by  his  own  request,  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved. 
In  1821  he  was  elected  to  the  Professorship  of  Ecclesi 
astical  History  and  Church  Polity  in  the  Auburn  Theo 
logical  Seminary.  He  continued  actively  engaged  in  the 
discharge  of  his  various  duties  till  near  the  close  of  his 

[302] 


i797- 

life.     He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Di 
vinity  from  Allegheny  College  in  1818. 

The  personal  appearance  of  Dr.  Perrine  was  altogether 
agreeable.  His  countenance  indicated  great  mildness 
and  benignity,  mingled  with  thoughtfulness  and  intelli 
gence  ;  his  manners  were  urbane  and  winning  ;  his  tem 
per  amiable  and  benevolent.  He  was  naturally  of  a 
speculative  and  metaphysical  turn.  In  theology,  he  har 
monized  with  Dr.  Emmons.  As  a  preacher,  he  was 
always  instructive  and  interesting,  but  could  not  be  called 
popular.  His  style  was  correct  and  perspicuous,  but,  in 
a  great  measure,  unadorned.  There  was  great  charm  in 
the  mellow  and  gentle  tones  of  his  voice.  He  had  the 
reputation  of  being  an  accurate  and  thorough  scholar. 
He  died  February  n,  1836. 

Dr.  Perrine  published  :  Letters  concerning  the  Plan  of  Salvation,  addressed 
to  the  Members  of  the  Spring  Street  Church,  New  York,  1816.  A  Sermon 
before  a  French  Missionary  Society  in  Neyy  York,  1817.  An  Abstract  of 
Biblical  Geography,  1835. 

John  Howe  Peyton  was  the  son  of  John  Rowzee 
Peyton,  of  Stafford  County,  Virginia.  Being  admitted 
to  the  Bar,  he  settled  at  Staunton,  Virginia,  where  he 
was  long  eminent. 

Dennis  De  Berdt  Reed  was  a  son  of  the  distin 
guished  General  Joseph  Reed  of  the  class  of  1757.  Mr 
Reed  died  at  sea,  January  5,  1805. 

Richard  Rush  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush, 
and  grandson  of  Richard  Stockton — both  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  both  graduates  of 
Princeton.  He  studied  law  with  William  Lewis,  Esq., 
then  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Philadelphia  Bar,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  1800.  For  the  next  seven  years 
he  was  devoted  to  the  study  of  his  profession.  In  1808,  he 
became  prominent  by  his  defence  of  Colonel  Duane,  edi 
tor  of  the  Aurora,  the  Democratic  organ  in  Philadelphia. 

[303] 


i797- 

In  January,  1811,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Snyder,  Attorney-General  of  Pennsylvania.  In  Novem 
ber  of  the  same  year,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Madison 
First  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury.  When  the  war  of 
1812  commenced,  Mr.  Rush  by  his  pen  and  in  public  ad 
dresses,  entered  warmly  into  the  defence  of  Mr.  Madison 
and  his  policy.  In  1814,  when  but  thirty -three  years  of 
age,  he  was  offered  the  post  either  of  Attorney-General, 
or  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  He  chose  the  first,  which 
he  held  until  1817,  discharging  its  important  duties  with 
eminent  success.  After  the  inauguration  of  Mr.  Monroe, 
in  1816,  John  Q.  Adams,  then  Minister  to  England,  was 
appointed  Secretary  of  State,  but  for  about  six  months 
previous  to  his  return,  Mr.  Rush  acted  in  that  capacity. 
In  October,  1817,  he  was  appointed  Envoy  Extraordinary 
and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  Court  of  Great  Brit 
ain,  holding  this  high  position  until  1825.  In  1825,  he 
entered  upon  the  office  of  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  to 
which  he  had  been  previously  appointed  by  Mr.  Adams, 
and  served  during  the  continuance  of  that  Administra 
tion.  In  1828,  Mr.  Rush  was  nominated  on  the  same 
ticket  with  Mr.  Adams  for  the  office  of  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States,  and  received  the  same  number  of 
electoral  votes.  Mr.  Rush  warmly  sympathized  with 
General  Jackson  in  his  administration.  In  March,  1847, 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Polk,  Minister  to  France. 
This  was  the  last  public  position  held  by  him.  The 
closing  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  retirement  at  the 
paternal  estate  of  Sydenham,  in  the  suburbs  of  Philadel 
phia.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  July  30,  1859. 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Rush  are  :  Narrative  of  a  Residence  at  the  Court 
of  London  from  1817  to  1825,  8vo,  London  and  Philadelphia,  1833.  In 
1845,  he  published  a  new  and  enlarged  edition  of  the  same  work  under  the 
title  of  "  Memoranda  of  a  Residence  at  the  Court  of  London,  comprising 
incidents,  Official  and  Personal,  from  1819  to  1815  ;  including  negotiations 
on  the  Oregon  Question  and  other  unsettled  questions  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain."  Oration  delivered  at  Washington,  July  4,  i8iz. 
Letters  on  Free  Masonry,  Philadelphia,  1831.  Report  against  the  Bank  ot 
the  United  States,  1834.  Whilst  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States,  he 


1797- 

superintended  the  publication  of  a  new  edition  or  codification  of  the  Laws 
of  the  United  States,  issued  in  1815  in  5  volumes.  Washington  in  Domes 
tic  Life;  from  original  Letters  and  Manuscripts.  1857.  Occasional  Pro 
ductions,  Political,  Diplomatic  and  Miscellaneous.  1857.  He  also  occa 
sionally  contributed  to  periodical  literature. 

John  Strawbridge  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
After  graduating,  he  entered  mercantile  life,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  He  died  at 
Germantown,  Pennsylvania,  April  4,  1858. 

Stephen  Thompson  received  his  license  from  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  October  9,  1800,  and  was  or 
dained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Connecticut 
Farms,  New  Jersey,  June  15,  1802.  In  1834,  he  removed 
to  Indiana,  where  he  died,  May  31,  1856. 

George  Mclntosh  Troup  was  born  in  Georgia. 
On  his  return  from  college  he  studied  law.  In  1801,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Georgia,  and  was  re- 
elected  in  1802  and  1803.  In  1806,  he  represented  his 
State  in  Congress,  holding  the  position  until  1815.  In 
1816,  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  In  1823,  he  was  elected  Gov 
ernor  of  Georgia,  from  which  post  he  retired  in  1827, 
with  a  popularity  equal  to  that  of  any  former  Chief 
Magistrate.  In  1828,  he  was  returned  to  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  held  the  position  until  1834.  In  the 
Senate  his  feebleness  of  health  forbade  his  participa 
tion  in  debate.  Governor  Troup  was  a  great  advocate 
for  State  Rights  and  State  Sovereignty.  He  died  in 
1856. 

John  Vaiicleve  studied  medicine,  and  practiced 
during  his  life  in  Princeton.  He  was  a  man  of  high  at 
tainments  and  great  skill  in  his  profession.  He  was  a  Trus 
tee  of  the  College  from  1810  to  the  day  of  his  death  in 
1826.  Dr.  Vancleve  was  a  native  of  Hunterdon  County, 
New  Jersey. 

20  [   305  ] 


1797- 

John  Watson,  probably  the  most  remarkable  man  in 
a  most  distinguished  class,  was  a  native  of  Western  Penn 
sylvania  ;  but  being  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  he 
was  received  into  the  house  of  a  friend  of  the  family. 
When  about  six  or  seven  years  old,  a  copy  of  the  "  Vicar 
of  Wakefield  "  fell  into  his  hands,  and  from  that  time  his 
desire  to  obtain  knowledge  was  insatiable. 

The  lady  who  had  taken  him  into  her  house  after  the 
death  of  his  parents,  had  a  handsome  collection  of  books, 
and  especially  of  novels,  of  which  she  was  a  great  reader. 
She  soon  discovered  that  Watson  was,  at  every  leisure 
moment,  reading  these  books,  and  she  peremptorily  for 
bade  him  the  use  of  them.  He  wished  to  be  obedient, 
but  he  could  not  resist  his  desire  to  read.  He  secretly 
took  her  books,  and  concealing  them  in  a  private  place, 
read  them  by  stealth.  The  stratagem  being  discovered, 
the  book-case  was  locked  and  the  key  securely  laid 
away ;  but  he  finding  a  key  which  unlocked  the  case, 
continued  to  read  until  he  had  devoured  every  book  in 
the  library.  When  about  nine  years  old,  he  lived  with  a 
man  who  kept  a  tavern  and  a  retail  store,  and  under  his 
instruction  became  proficient  in  writing  and  arithmetic. 
He  was  employed  in  the  store  and  in  the  bar-room  as 
circumstances  required.  About  this  time  he  fell  in  with 
a  copy  of  Addison's  Spectator,  which  he  read  with  great 
delight,  and  the  Latin  sentences  prefixed  to  each  num 
ber,  excited  in  him  an  intense  desire  to  learn  Latin.  He 
soon  got  possession  of  a  copy  of  Horace  and  an  old  Latin 
dictionary,  and  without  the  help  of  a  grammar  or  other 
aids,  he  soon  became  familiar  with  the  greater  part  of 
that  difficult  author. 

While  he  was  thus  employed,  Judge  Alexander  Addi- 
son  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  while  attending  court, 
stopped  at  the  public-house  where  Watson  lived,  and 
returning  late  one  night  found  the  young  bar-keeper 
reading  Horace  by  the  light  of  the  fire.  From  the  Judge 
he  received  the  first  encouraging  word  that  he  had  re 
ceived  since  the  death  of  his  father.  He  remained  in  this 

[  306  ] 


1797- 

place  until  he  was  nineteen,  keeping  bar  and  studying 
the  classics  and  various  branches  of  literature  and 
science. 

About  this  time  his  proficiency  became  known  to  Rev. 
John  McMillan,  D.D.,  who  appointed  him  an  assistant 
teacher  in  the  Academy  at  Cannonsburg.  Here  he  re 
mained  eighteen  months,  when  he  entered  the  College  at 
Princeton.  Here  he  was  pre-eminent  for  scholarship, 
unblemished  morals  and  unaffected  piety. 

On  returning  to  his  native  State,  he  was  immediately 
chosen  Principal  of  the  Academy  at  Cannonsburg ;  and 
soon  after,  by  an  able  and  powerful  appeal  to  the  Legis 
lature,  he  obtained  the  Charter  of  Jefferson  College,  of 
which  he  became  the  first  President.  In  1798,  he  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  took  charge  soon  after  of  a  small 
congregation  near  Cannonsburg,  and  continued  its  pastor 
in  connection  with  his  college  duties,  until  a  short  time 
before  his  death,  which  occurred  November  31,  1802. 

Mr.  Watson's  scientific  and  literary  attainments  were 
equally  extensive  and  exact.  He  was  a. good  French, 
Spanish  and  Italian  scholar,  and  was  familiar  with  the 
Hebrew  and  Arabic.  In  a  word,  he  was  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  men  of  the  day. 

[307] 


1798. 

Charles  Ewiiig  was  the  son  of  James  Ewing,  a  dis 
tinguished  citizen  of  New  Jersey.  He  took  the  first 
honour  in  his  class ;  and,  after  graduation,  studied  law 
in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
1802.  In  October,  1824,  he  was  appointed  Chief-Justice 
of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  re-appointed  in  1831. 
Judge  Ewing  may  be  justly  reckoned  among  the  greatest 
ornaments  of  the  New  Jersey  Bar.  His  acquaintance 
with  his  own  department  of  knowledge  was  both  exten 
sive  and  profound,  closely  resembling  that  of  the  English 
black-letter  lawyers.  In  a  very  remarkable  degree  he 
kept  himself  abreast  of  the  general  literature  of  the  day, 
and  was  even  lavish  in  regard  to  the  purchase  of  books. 

He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Tren 
ton,  and  was  an  active  and  earnest  Christian.  He  was 
eminently  conservative  in  Church  and  State  ;  punctual 
in  adherence  to  rule  and  precedent,  incapable  of  being 
led  into  any  vagaries,  sound  in  judgment,  tenacious  of 
opinion,  indefatigable  in  labour,  and  incorruptibly  honest 
and  honourable,  so  as  to  be  proverbially  cited  all  over 
the  State.  Judge  Ewing  received  the  honorary  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Jefferson  College  in  1830.  He 
died  at  Trenton,  August  5,  1832. 

Daniel  Eliot  Huger  came  from  South  Carolina,  to 
which  State  he  returned  after  graduating.  For  nearly 
half  a  century  he  was  identified  with  the  public  service 
of  his  State  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  State  Sen 
ate  and  Judge  of  her  Courts.  From  1843  to  1846  he  was 
in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  He  died  in  August, 

1854. 

[308] 


i798. 

George  Washington  Reed,  the  youngest  son  of 
General  Joseph  Reed,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  26, 
1780.  After  graduating,  he  entered  the  navy  as  a  mid 
shipman,  and  was  soon  promoted.  In  1804  he  was  in 
command  of  the  "  Nautilus,"  and  was  in  the  engagement 
at  Tripoli,  where  he  showed  great  heroism.  When  the 
War  of  1812  broke  out,  Mr.  Reed,  then  a  Commander, 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  sloop-of-war  "  Vixen." 
On  the  1 2th  of  November,  1812,  his  vessel  was  captured 
by  the  British  frigate  "  Southampton."  Soon  after  the 
capture,  both  vessels  were  wrecked  on  the  Bahama  Keys, 
at  the  Island  of  Conception.  The  frigate's  crew  became 
mutinous  from  intoxication,  and  the  property  which  was 
saved  from  both  wrecks  was  retrieved  by  the  generous 
and  indefatigable  exertions  of  the  American  sailors.  Cap 
tain  Reed  himself  was  as  actively  engaged  in  the  direc 
tion  and  encouragement  of  the  men  as  any  of  the  British 
officers,  and  received  the  public  acknowledgment  of  the 
British  Commander,  accompanied  by  an  offer  of  his  par 
ole  to  return  home.  But  such  were  the  noble  sentiments 
by  which  he  was  ever  actuated,  that  he  would  not  leave 
his  officers  and  men,  preferring  to  remain  with  them  in 
an  unhealthy  climate,  to  which  they  were  taken ;  he  be 
came  a  victim  to  an  obstinate  fever,  brought  on  by  the 
anxieties  and  fatigues  to  which,  by  his  unpleasant  situa 
tion  and  his  unremitting  attentions  to  the  comforts  of  his 
men,  he  was  necessarily  exposed.  His  interment  was  at 
tended  by  the  British  officers  and  a  detachment  from  the 
garrison,  and  his  funeral  obsequies  were  accompanied  by 
those  honours  due  to  his  rank,  and  seldom  withheld  from 
each  other  by  brave  and  generous  enemies.  He  died  at 
Jamaica,  West  Indies,  January  4,  1813. 

Henry  Sergeant,  a  brother  of  John  Sergeant  of  the 
class  of  1795,  resided,  after  his  graduation,  in  Philadel 
phia,  where  he  pursued  a  mercantile  life. 

Thomas  Sergeant,  a  brother  of  the  preceding,  be- 

[  3°9  ] 


1798. 

came  eminent  for  his  legal  knowledge  ;  and  from  1834  to 
1846  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  filled  many  other  public  stations  with  high  reputa 
tion.  He  died  May  5,  1860. 

The  publications  of  Judge  Sergeant  are  :  Treatise  upon  the  Laws  of  Penn 
sylvania  relative  to  the  Proceedings  by  Foreign  Attachment ;  Philadelphia, 
1811,  8vo.  Constitutional  Law,  1812,  8vo.  View  of  the  Land  Laws  of 
Pennsylvania,  etc.,  1838,  8vo.  Reports,  etc.  Sketch  of  the  National  Ju 
diciary  Powers. 

In  early  life  Judge  Sergeant  was  a  contributor  of  prose 
and  poetical  articles  to  the  periodicals. 

Joseph  Holmes  Van  Mater,  of  Monmouth  County, 
New  Jersey,  never  studied  a  profession,  but  engaged 
largely  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died  in  1860. 

[310] 


1799- 

John  Alston,  after  graduating,  returned  to  South 
Carolina,  his  native  state,  and  was  occupied  in  planting 
cotton. 

William  A.  Alston,  a  brother  of  the  above,  never 
studied  a  profession,  but,  like  his  brother,  was  engaged 
in  planting  in  South  Carolina. 

Eleazer  Burnet  received  his  license  to  preach  from 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1804;  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  at  Newburg  on  the  2oth  of  November,  1805  5 
and  died  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  November  22, 
1806."  He  was  labouring  under  a  pulmonary  disease  at 
the  time  of  his  ordination.  Mr.  Burnet  was  distinguished 

O 

for  a  quiet,  amiable  and  devout  spirit. 

John  Forsyth  was  born  in  Fredericksburg,  Vir 
ginia,  but  removed  with  his  father  to  Georgia  when  he 
was  but  four  years  old.  He  was  prepared  for  college  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Springer,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  of  the 
class  of  1775.  After  graduating,  he  returned  to  Georgia, 
and  read  law  in  the  office  of  John  Y.  Noel,  of  Augusta, 
a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1777.  Soon  after  his  admission 
to  the  Bar  he  was  appointed  Attorney-General  of  the 
State,  and  in  this  office  attained  great  distinction.  In 
1811  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States.  In  1818  he  was  transferred  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  where  he  remained  until  1819, 
when  he  was  appointed  Minister  to  Spain,  where  he  re 
mained  several  years  engaged  in  adjusting  the  differences 
between  that  country  and  the  United  States.  While  in 

[311  ] 


1799- 

Spain  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House  of  Representa 
tives,  in  which  body  he  took  his  seat  in  1823.  In  1827  he 
was  elected  Governor  of  Georgia.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  office  in  1829,  he  was  again  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  where  he  remained  until  1834, 
when  he  succeeded  Mr.  M'Lean  as  Secretary  of  State. 
During  no  period  since  the  War  of  1812,  had  our  foreign 
relations  involved  questions  more  important;  and  the 
honour  and  success  with  which  they  were  conducted 
were  owing,  in  a  great  degree,  to  the  talents  and  firmness 
of  Mr.  Forsyth.  He  died  in  Washington  City,  October 
21,  1841. 

In  person  he  was  upright  and  finely  proportioned.  As 
a  speaker,  he  never  failed  to  attract  attention.  He  was 
always  courteous  and  complimentary  to  his  antagonist. 
He  used  little  gesture,  and  his  most  emphatic  passages 
were  always  in  an  under  tone,  which  never  failed  to  pro 
duce  a  deep  impression.  In  a  still  small  voice  he  poured 
out  heart  and  soul  and  feeling,  charming  his  audience  into 
silence. 

Mr.  Forsyth  was  not  a  hard  student,  but  he  was  a  deep 
thinker.  He  mastered  the  contents  of  a  book  whilst 
others  would  be  turning  over  its  leaves.  His  knowledge 
was  extensive,  and  whatever  he  knew  was  always  at  com 
mand.  As  an. off-hand  debater,  he  had  no  superior. 

William  Jenkins,  the  youngest  son  of  David  Jen 
kins,  Esq.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1779.  After  completing  the  study  of  the  law,  he  soon 
became  prominent  at  the  Lancaster  Bar,  and  second  to 
none  among  famed  contemporaries,  who  made  that  Bar 
so  distinguished.  Mr.  Jenkins  was  an  able  jurist  and  ripe 
lawyer,  a  safe  counsellor  and  most  eloquent  advocate, 
winning  his  way  to  the  hearts  of  a  jury  with  a  resistless 
power,  and  presenting  to  the  court  the  strong  law  points 
of  his  case  with  a  tact  and  energy  that  seldom  failed  in  its 
effects.  His  mind  was  eminently  legal,  and  a  superior 
knowledge  of  law  was  his  distinguishing  characteristic. 


1799- 

A  son  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1835.  Mr.  Jenkins  died 
in  the  City  of  Lancaster  in  1853,  universally  respected 
for  his  social  and  high  moral  qualities. 

James  Cat-heart  Johnson,  a  native  of  North  Caro 
lina,  after  leaving  college  studied  law  in  his  native  State, 
but  never  practiced.  His  whole  time  was  taken  up  in 
managing  his  large  estates. 

Fredrick  Nash  was  the  son  of  Abner  Nash,  the  sec 
ond  Governor  of  North  Carolina  under  the  Constitution. 
He  became  a  distinguished  lawyer.  In  1804,  1805,  he 
was  in  the  House  of  Commons  of  North  Carolina.  In 
1818  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Courts  of 
Law  and  Equity,  which  he  resigned  in  1819.  In  1827, 
1828,  he  was  again  in  the  House  of  Commons.  In  1836 
he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  from  which 
he  was  transferred  in  1844  to  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  he  occupied  with  great  satisfaction  to  the 
State  and  credit  to  himself. 

James  Rogers  was  born  in  Milford,  Delaware,  and 
was  a  son  of  Governor  Daniel  Rogers  of  that  State.  He 
studied  law  with  Nicholas  Ridgley,  afterwards  Chancel 
lor  of  Delaware,  and  after  admission  to  the  Bar  settled  in 
New  Castle,  where  he  followed  his  profession.  He  mar 
ried  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  James  Booth,  Chief-Justice 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Delaware,  and  held  for 
twenty  years  the  office  of  Attorney-General  of  Delaware. 
Mr.  Rogers  ranked  with  the  first  lawyers  of  his  day,  was 
a  leading  man  of  the  Federalists,  and  was  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all.  He  was  a  communicant,  trustee  and 
vestryman  of  Immanuel  Church,  New  Castle,  for  many 
years.  Relinquishing  the  practice  of  the  law,  he  retired 
to  his  seat,  Boothhurst,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
New  Castle,  and  resided  there  till  his  death,  May  12,  1868, 
aged  eighty-eight  years.  He  was  erect,  and  retained  his 
powers  of  mind  and  body  remarkably  to  his  decease.  He 


1799- 

is  universally  spoken  of  as  a  perfect  gentleman  in  dress, 
manners  and  character.  Four  sons  survive  him  ;  two  of 
them  lawyers  in  San  Francisco,  California. 

Henry  G.  Wisner  was  a  son  of  Henry  Wisner,  a 
man  of  note  in  Orange  County,  New  York.  .  After  study 
ing  law  he  settled  at  Goshen,  New  York,  where  he  rose 
to  the  highest  eminence  in  his  profession. 


i8oo. 

James  Carnahan,  the  son  of  Major  Carnahan  of  the 
Revolutionary  army,  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1775.  He  graduated  with  the  highest  honours,  speaking 
the  English  Salutatory  at  Commencement.  For  one  year 
after  his  graduation  he  studied  Theology  under  Dr.  Mc 
Millan  at  Cannonsburg,  Pennsylvania,  after  which  he  re 
turned  to  Princeton,  becoming  tutor  in  the  college,  and 
pursuing  his  theological  studies  under  President  Smith. 
In  April,  1804,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  and  supplied  the  vacant  churches  in  the 
bounds  of  that  Presbytery  for  some  time.  On  the  5th  of 
January,  1805,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  Whitesborough 
and  Utica  Churches  in  New  York,  where  he  remained 
until  1814,  when,  on  account  of  the  state  of  his  health* 
he  resigned  his  charge,  and,  after  teaching  for  a  short 
time  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  removed  to  Georgetown, 
District  of  Columbia,  and  opened  a  Classical  Academy, 
which  soon  became  quite  prosperous.  In  1821  he  re 
ceived  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
Hamilton  College. 

In  1823  Dr.  Carnahan  was  elected  President  of  the 
college,  Dr.  Green  having  resigned  the  year  before. 
He  remained  in  this  eminent  post  for  thirty  years,  pre 
siding  with  dignity  and  honour.  But  in  1853  failing 
health,  and  the  increasing  infirmities  of  age,  compelled 
him  to  resign.  He  remained  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  till  his  death.  He  died  at  his  son-in-law's,  in 
Newark,  March  3,  1859.  The  time  during  which  Dr. 
Carnahan  presided  over  the  college  was  the  period  of  its 
greatest  prosperity. 

Dr.  Carnahan  published  a  number  of  Baccalaureate 


i8oo. 

Addresses  and  Sermons,  and  some  articles  in  the  earlier 
numbers  of  the  Princeton  Review ;  he  also  edited  the  Life 
of  the  Rev.  John  Johnson,  of  Nevvburg,  New  York,  in 
1856.  Though  a  forcible  writer,  with  great  perspicuity 
of  style,  he  was  very  reluctant  to  appear  as  an  author,  so 
much  so,  that  he  expressly  stated  in  his  will  that  none 
of  his  lectures  or  other  manuscripts  should  be  published. 
His  funeral  took  place  in  Princeton,  and  his  dust  mingles 
with  the  dust  of  the  mighty  dead  of  Nassau  Hall. 

Arthur  Kose  Fitzlmgli,  a  native  of  Stafford  Coun 
ty,  Virginia,  took  the  second  honour  of  his  class,  and  de 
livered  the  Valedictory.  He  returned  to  Virginia  and 
read  law,  but  did  not  practice  his  profession.  He  died  at 
the  early  age  of  forty-two  in  the  year  1823.  Mr.  Fitz- 
hugh  was  a  man  of  remarkable  talent ;  and  was  cele 
brated  for  his  handsome  person  and  address. 

Jacob  Linclly  came  to  college  from  Western  Penn 
sylvania  in  company  with  his  classmate  James  Carnahan. 
Lindly  had  a  fine  horse  which  he  would  ride  for  five  or 
ten  miles,  and  then  tie  him  by  the  road  side  and  proceed 
on  foot ;  his  friend,  Carnahan,  coming  up,  would  mount 
the  horse  and  ride  on.  Thus  alternating  they  at  last 
reached  Princeton.  How  little  did  the  young  men  im 
agine,  while  they  were  "riding  and  tying,"  that  both 
would  in  course  of  years  become  Presidents  of  Colleges  ; 
the  one  of  his  Alma  Mater,  the  other  of  a  college  in  what 
was  then  a  far  western  Territory. 

Mr.  Lindly  became  the  first  President  of  Ohio  Univer 
sity  at  Athens,  about  1804.  Whether  he  was  ever  settled 
after  he  left  the  University,  I  have  not  been  able  to  dis 
cover.  He  died  in  1856. 

Benjamin  Morgan  Palmer  was  the  grandson  of 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Palmer  of  Barnstable,  Massachusetts, 
and  a  son  of  Job  Palmer  who  emigrated  from  Massachu 
setts  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  previous  to  the  Revo- 

[316] 


i8oo. 

lution.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Philadel 
phia,  September  25,  1781,  his  parents  having  been  driven 
there  by  the  storm  of  the  Revolution.  Fie  was  licensed 
to  preach  on  the  ;th  of  June,  1803,  by  the  "Congrega 
tional  Association  of  Ministers  "  in  South  Carolina,  and 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Beau 
fort,  South  Carolina,  April  28,  1804.  Here  he  laboured 
with  much  fidelity  until  1813,  when  he  removed  to 
Charleston,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Circular  Church, 
where  he  continued  until  1835,  when  his  health  failed, 
and  he  resigned.  The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  College  of 
South  Carolina  in  1815.  He  died  October  9,  1847. 

The  great  charm  of  Dr.  Palmer's  character  was  trans 
parent  simplicity.  His  mind  was  saturated  with  the 
meaning,  spirit  and  language  of  the  Bible.  His  thoughts 
in  the  pulpit  were,  therefore,  always  fresh.  His  prayers 
were  most  remarkable.  He  was  of  medium  stature ; 
though  a  spare  habit  and  an  erect  figure  added  to  his 
apparent  height.  He  was  pre-eminently  composed  in 
manner,  and  dignified  in  his  carriage ;  his  voice  was  deep 
and  sonorous.  In  the  midst  of  society  he  was  often  sunk 
in  deep  reverie,  wrapped  up  in  the  seclusion  of  his  own 
thoughts. 

Dr.  Palmer  published  :  Believing  Baptism,  no  Argument  against  Infant 
Baptism  ;  a  Sermon  preached  in  Beaufort,  1809.  Gratitude  and  Penitence  re 
commended  from  the  united  consideration  of  national  judgments  ;  a  Sermon 
delivered  on  a  day  appointed  for  Humiliation,  Thanksgiving  and  Prayer  in 
Charleston,  1814.  The  Signs  of  the  Times  discovered  and  improved  ;  two 
Sermons  delivered  in  the  Independent  Church,  Charleston,  1816.  The  De 
jected  Christian  Encouraged  ;  two  Discourses  preached  in  the  Independent 
Church,  Charleston,  1816.  A  Charge  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Jonas  King 
and  Alfred  Wright,  the  former  of  whom  was  ordained  a  City  Missionary  in 
Charleston,  among  the  Seamen  and  others  ;  the  latter  as  a  Missionary  to 
the  Choctaw  Indians;  1819.  A  Sermon  on  the  Anniversary  of  the  Sabbath 
School  Association  in  Charleston,  1819.  Importance  of  the  Ministerial  Of 
fice  ;  a  Sermon  preached  in  the  Independent  or  Congregational  Church  in 
Charleston  at  the  Ordination  of  five  young  men  as  Evangelists,  1821.  Re 
ligion  Profitable  ;  a  Sermon  with  a  special  reference  to  the  case  of  Servants,- 
delivered  in  the  Circular  Church,  1822.  The  three  following  were  pub 
lished  in  the  Southern  Preacher,  1824.  The  Reasons  which  Christians  have 

[317] 


i8oo. 

for  mourning  the  sudden  removal  of  men  who  have  been  distinguished  for 
the  excellence  of  their  characters,  and  the  usefulness  of  their  lives;  a  Ser 
mon  delivered  on  the  death  of  Dr.  David  Ramsay.  A  Sermon  on  the  Con 
sequences  of  Unbelief.  A  Sermon  on  the  Admonition  administered  to 
Elijah.  Good  men  the  Protection  and  Ornament  of  a  Community ;  a  Ser 
mon  delivered  in  the  Circular  Church,  Charleston,  on  the  death  of  Josiah 
Smith,  Esq.,  eldest  Deacon  of  the  Church,  1826.  The  Children  of  profes 
sing  believers  God's  Children  ;  or,  The  Right  of  the  Children  of  God's  peo 
ple  to  the  initiating  seal  of  the  Covenant  asserted  and  maintained  ;  a  Ser 
mon  delivered  in  the  Circular  Church,  1835.  A  Sermon  published  in  the 
National  Preacher,  entitled,  "The  Sinner  Arraigned  and  Convicted,"  1836. 
The  Family  Companion,  with  an  Appendix  containing  a  Sermon  delivered 
on  the  Sacramental  occasion  that  terminated  his  pastoral  relation  to  his 
people  in  July,  1835. 

Robert  F.  Smith  was  a  son  of  John  Blair  Smith  of 
the  class  of  1773.  He  was  settled  for  some  time  over  a 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Snow  Hill,  Maryland,  where  he 
died  in  1824. 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Abeel,  John  Nelson     .        .  .232 

Agnew,  James          .        .        .  281 

Agnew,  Martin  .  .  .  .297 
Agnew,  William  .  .  .297 

Alexander,  Evan          .        .  .232 

Alexander,  Isaac       .        .        .  147 

Alexander,  Joseph        .         .  .63 

Alexander,  Joseph  McKnitt     .  257 

Alexander,  Nathaniel .         .  .193 

Alison.  Hugh  76 

Allen,  Moses        .        .        .  .147 

Alston,  John  ....  311 
Alston,  William  A.  ...  311 

Anderson,  William  A.      .        .  243 

Anderson,  William  T.          .  .  289 

Archer,  John     ....  64 

Archibald,  Robert        .        .  .  147 

Armstrong,  James  Francis      .  160 

A  very,  Waightstill      .        .  .104 

Axtell,  Henry  ....  289 

Ayres,  Enos  1 

Bacon,  John  ....  95 
Bainbridge,  Absalom  .  .  76 

Balch,  Hezekiah  .  .  .104 
Balch,  Hezekiah  James  .  .  105 
Balch,  Stephen  Bloomer .  .  173 
Baldwin,  John  .  .  .  .220 
Baldwin,  Jonathan  ...  34 
Baldwin,  Moses  .  .  .  .43 
Baldwin,  Samuel  .  .  .134 
Barber,  Francis  ....  117 
Barber,  George  C.  .  289 


PAGE. 

Barclay,  David  .  .  .  .252 
Bard,  David  ....  160 
Barnum,  Caleb  .  .  .  .43 
Barrett,  Moses  ...  27 

Bay,  Hugh 9 

Bayard  Andrew  .  .  .  204 
Bayard,  James  Ashton  .  .  199 
Bayard,  James  Ashton  .  .  220 
Bayard,  Nicholas  .  .  .43 
Bayard,  Nicholas  .  .  .257 
Bayard,  Samuel  .  .  .  .221 
Bayley,  Thomas  .  .  .297 
Bayly,  Thomas  M.  272 

Beasley,  Fredrick  .  .  .297 
Beatty,  Charles  Clinton  .  .  182 
Beatty,  John  ....  127 
Beatty,  Richard  L.  .  .  .  297 
Bedford,  Gunning  .  .  .  139 
Bellach,  Thomas  A.  .  .  237 

Benedict,  Joel  ....  95 
Benedict,  Noah  ....  44 
Berrien,  John  Macpherson  .  290 

Bibb,  George  M 257 

Black,  John  ....  139 
Blackwell,  Robert  :  .  .121 
Blair,  John  Duburrow  .  .  182 
Blair,  Samuel  .  .  .  .64 
Blair,  William  Lawrence  .  127 
Bleeker,  Peter  .  .  .  .259 
Boileau,  Nathaniel  .  .  .243 
Boyd,  James  .  .  .  .82 
Boyd,  John  A.  .  .  .281 

Boyd,  William     .        .        .        .202 
(319) 


320 


INDEX. 


Brackenridge,  Hugh  Henry     .  140 

Bradford,  Ebenezer      .  .  161 
Bradford,  William    .        .        .173 

Bradford,  William        .  .  148 

Bradner,  Benoni       ...  34 

Breck,  Daniel       .        .         .  .174 
Brevard,  Ephraim    .        .        .123 

Broom,  James  M.  272 

Brown,  Daniel  I.       ...  22 
Brown,  John         ....       5 

Brush,  Abner  ....  44 

Burnet,  Eleazer   .         .         .  .311 

Burnet,  George  Whitefield      .  259 

Burnet,  Ichabod  .         .         .  .183 

Burnet,  Jacob  ....  252 

Burnet,  Mathias  .         .  •      ,  .  127 

Burnet,  William       .        "...  5 

Burr,  Aaron          .                 .  •  .  149 

Burr,  Thaddeus         .         .         .  34 

Caldwell,  David  ....     70 

Caldwell,  Elias  Boudinot          .  291 

Caldwell,  James.           .         .  .57 

Caldwell,  Joseph      .        .        .  253 

Calhoun,  John  Ewing          .  .  174 

Camp,  Stephen         ...  38 

Campbell.  Donald        .        .  .141 

Campbell,  George  Washington  272 

Campfield,  Jabez       ...  58 

Canfield,  Israel    .        .        .  .22 

Cantine,  Moses  J.      .         .         .  291 

Carmichael,  John         .        .  .58 

Carnahan,  James      .         .         .  315 

Case,  Wheeler     ...  .35 

Cazier,  Mathias         .         .         .  225 

Channing,  William     .        .  .128 

Chapman,  Benjamin     .:.    '     .  27 

Chapman,  Robert  Hett     .         •  243 

Chestnut,  Benjamin     .         .  .1 

Chestnut,  James       .         .  ,      .  259 

Chetwood,  William     ...  <     .  .  259 

Clagget,  Thomas  John     .         .  90 

Clark,  John        '  ;        ,     -    .  .     58 

Clark,  Joseph   .       ..       -.       ,.  208 

Clark,  Samuel      .        ;        .  .     12 

Clarke,  James  W.     .        .         .  299 

Clarkson,  George         ..       .  .237 
Clay,  Joseph    .                         .221 


Clinton,  Alexander  ...  9 
Close,  John  .  '  .'  .  82 
Clymer  Henry  ....  228 
Clymer,  Meredith  ...  .232 
Coe,  Aaron.  ....  299 

Collins,  John    .         .  244 

Comfort,  David  .  .  .  .281 
Condict,  Aaron  .  .  .237 
Condict,  Ira  ....  222 
Condit,  Silas  ....  281 
Conk  1  in,  Benjamin  .  .  .35 
Cooper,  Robert  ...  82 
Co  well,  David  .  .  .  .83 
Co  well,  Ebenezer  .  .  .  105 
Craig,  Archibald  .  .  .161 
Craighead,  John  ...  83 
Craighead,  Thomas  B.  .  .  183 
Crane,  Daniel.  .  .  .  .  299 
Crane,  Isaac  Watts  .  .  .  244 
Crawford,  Edward  .  .184 

Crawford,  James  -  .  ,  .  200 
Crawford,  William  .  .  .  209 
Gumming,  John  Noble  .  .  174 
Curtiss,  Caleb  .  „  .  .45 
Cuthbert,  George  R.  .  .  281 

Davenport,  Ebenezer.          .  .76 

Davenport,  John       .  .       128 

Davie,  William  Richardson  .  193 

Davies,  John  Rodgers      .  .       128 

Davies,  William  .        .        .  .96 

Dayton,  Jonathan     .         .  .       194 

Debow,  John        .        .  .     .  .150 

Devens,  Richard     ...        .  .       118 

Dewitt,  Peter       .      .  .      .  .  .128 

Dickerson,  Mahlon  .         .  .      244 

Dickinson,  Samuel  Sharpe  .  .  254 
Ditmars,  Dow   ....      267 

Doak,  Samuel       .        .        .  .184 

Dod,  Thaddeus         .        .  .161 

Duffield,  George  .         .         .  .17 

Dunlap,  James         .        .  .       162 

Eakin,  Samuel     .        ..-       ...        .     84 

Early,  Peter 260 

Eckley,  Joseph  .  •;.  .  !  150 
Edminston,  Samuel  .  ,  105 
Edwards,  Henry  Waggaman  .  300 


INDEX. 


321 


Edwards,  John  Stark        .        .  292 

Edwards,  Jonathan      .         .  .     96 

Edwards,  Pierpont   .         .   :  124 

Edwards,  Timothy      ...'  V.L  .  .     45 

Ellsworth,  Oliver     .      .."'/"'  10G 

Elmendorf,  Conrad      ,     '    .  .211 

Elmendorf,  Edmund         •  .      .  272 

Eltinge,  Wilhemus     ..""'."  .293 

Emerson,  Ezekiel     .    .    ,  ,      .  81 

English,  David    '.        L/.,^  .  245 

Eppes,  Richard        *.   'V"_''.'"'"V.  237 

Erwin,  Benjamin         .         .  .  195 

Evans,  Israel     .     .  ; ....       ,         .  151 

Everett,  Nicholas  C.     .        ."  .273 

Ewing,  Charles        ;       ,..       '.  308 

Ewing,  John         .        .•,-,...  .27 

E  wing,  William  B.  ."",.-.'.  273 

Eyre,  Manuel       .         .     .  .,  .  257 

Faitoute,  George      .....  195 

Faneuil,  Peter      ,         .    .  .  ,  .45 
Farrand,  Daniel         .    ,.r     ,.4        9 

Finley,  Ebenezer      ..;.;•>  .151 

Finley,  John  Evans          ,,  _-..-    .  195 

Finley,  Robert      .         .        ,.  .233 

Fish,  Peter        .         .        ,'      .  174 

Fithian,  Philip  Vicars         ..  .  151 

Fitzgerald,  John       .     '..••';,  293 

Fitztmgh,  Arthur  R.   ....:•    i  .  316 

Force,  James  G.        .        ,;:     .  273 

Ford,  Gabriel  H.  .       \{     \  .222 

Ford,  Jacob       ./:-,.     ,,^    ..  260 

Ford,  Timothy    .        .        .  .213 

Forman,  William  Gordon        .  228 

Foray th,  John       ,.-;..•.    >  .311 

Forsyth,  Robert  M. .        ,, ,  -  .   .  293 

Foster,  William  .        .,        .  .     91 

Frazer,  William  C.  .    ,,:  ..  .    ..  300 

Frelinghuysen,  Frederick    .  .  134 

Frelinghuysen,  Jacobus   .         .  11 

Freneau,  Philip   .    f    .    <jt  *.  .  141 

Furman,  John  W.    .   .    .. . ... .. ..  273 

Furman,  Moore    .               '.  .  273 

Gantt,  Edward          ...  76 
Gardiner,  David   ....  245 

Gardiner,  John  Lyon        .         .  245 

Gaston,  William          '.        .  .  294 

21 


Gelston,  Maltby       .  254 

Gibson,  James      .        ',  '  _  .  234 

Gibson,  John    .         .                 .  267 

Giles,  William  Branch        .  .  209 

Gordon,  Alexander  .        .        .  12 

Graham,  Edward          t     '   .  .  229 

Graham,  William     ....  163 

G. ant,  Thomas     .        .        .  .  229 

Green,  Ashbel  .    "    ..       .;      v,  213 

Green,  Enoc          .        .     ...  .     65 

Green,  Charles  Dickinson         .  234 

Green,  Richard  M.        .        .     *  .  273 

Gregory,  Elnathan  .         *        .  45 

Grier,  James        .    '  ". '  "    .  .  152 

Hait,  Benjamin  .  .  .  28 
Hall,  James  ' ."  ,  .  .  175 
Halsted,  Robert  ...  97 
Halsey.  Jeremiah  .  .  .17 
Handy,  Isaac  .  ...  71 
Hanna,  John  .  .  .  .36 
Hanna,  John  A.  .  '  . '  .  211 
Harper,  Robert  Goodloe  .  .  225 
Harris,  Charles  Wilson  .  .  260 
Harris,  Israel  '.  ...  249 
Harris,  John  .  .  .  .  22 
Harris,  Robert  .  .  .  '  .23 
Harris,  Thomas  R.  .  .  .  238 
Harrison,  Abraham  .  .  .  300 
Harrison,  Josiah  ,  .  282 

Hart,  Joshua  .  .  . .  .  135 
Hasbrouck,  Joseph  .  .  .107 
Hayes,  Samuel  .  ..  r.  .282 
Hazard,  Ebenezer  .  •  •  77 
Hazard,  Nathaniel  .  .  '  .  92 
Henderson,  Joseph  Washington  196 
Henderson,  Thomas  .  .  r  .  71 
Henry,  Hugh  .  '".....  2 
Henry,  John  .  .  ..  .  129 
Henry,  John  V.  .  1  .,  .  \  .  226 
Henry  Robert  .  .'  "  . "  .  12 
Herring,  Elbert  .  ,  .  ...  .  282 
Hiester,  John  S.  .. , ' ..','  ..  "  .273 
Hobart,  John  Henry  .  .  267 
Hodge,  Andrew  .  "  .  . .  .  152 
Hodge,  Hugh  .  '  ,  '  '.  '  '  .  164 

Hodge,  Hugh       .    '    . .  177 

Hogg,  John       ....          7 


INDEX. 


Hollyday,  Henry 
Hopkins,  James        .        . 
Horton,  Azariah  .        . 
Horton,  Ezra     .     '•'*.' 
Hosack,  David      .        .        . 
Hosack,  William       .     ';  . 
Houston,  Alexander    .'       . 
Houston,  John          .'         . 
Houston,  William  Churchill 
Houstoun,  Patrick    . 
How,  T.homas  Yardley 
Hovvell,  David 
Howell,  Nathaniel  W. 
Hugg,  William  King 
Huger,  Daniel  Eliot     . 
Hughes,  Thomas  Edgar  . 
Hunt,  Holloway  W.    . 
Hunt,  James     .    " 
Hunt,  James        .        .  '      . 
Hunt,  Nathaniel       .        . 
Hunt,  Ralph  P.    .    '    .        . 
Hunt,  Robert    .        .,        . 
Hunt,  William  Pitt     . 
Hunter,  Andrew       .        . 
Huntington,  John 
Hutchinson,  Titus    . 
Hutson,  Richard          .'       . 

Imlay,  James  Henderson 
Irving,  Thomas  Pitt    . 
Irwin  Nathaniel       ',        ', 

Jauncey,  James    .        •        . 
Jauncey,  William     . 
Jenkins,  William 
Johnson,  James  Cathcart 
Johnson,  Robert  G.     .       '. 
Johnson,  William     .    "    "• 
Joline,  John      '    .        .,  ( 
Jones,  Daniel    .'.''. 

Keene,  Richard  R. 
Keith,  Isaac  Stockton      .  ' 
Keith,  Robert      .        .    ;  .  . 
Kelsey,  Enos    .        .        ,  ' 
Kennedy,  Thomas        i        ;. 
Ker,  Jacob        '.        i        . 
Ker,  Nathan 


255 

Kerr,  Alexander  S.  . 

301 

222 

Keyes,  Eleazer  W.        .      ,..    ] 

.  284 

135 

King,  Andrew           .        ,\v      . 

165 

29 

Kirkland,  Samuel        . 

.    98 

245 

Kirkpatrick,  Andrew        .        . 

186 

261 

Kirkpatrick,  William 

.     45 

65 

Kirkpatrick,  William      .         . 

238 

23 

Kittera,  John  Wilkes  . 

.  196 

124 

Knox,  Hugh     .         •     '  .  •     ... 

29 

283 

Kollock,  Henry    .    '    ,        . 

.  275 

274 

107 

Lathrop,  John           .•        .        . 

85 

238 

Lawrence,  Nathaniel   .        . 

.  216 

229 

Leake,  Samuel          .     '  .    •    % 

92 

308 

Leake,  Samuel     . 

.  177 

300 

Lee,  Edmund  J.         ; 

261 

274 

Lee,  Charles         .        .        . 

.  188 

59 

Lee,  Henry  -              .        . 

165 

216 

Le  Conte,  Peter   . 

.  301 

269 

Leslie,  James   .        .        .        . 

60 

229 

Lewis.  Josiah       .        . 

.  108 

2G9 

Lewis,  Morgan         .        .        . 

166 

229 

Lindly,  Jacob       .        .        .   : 

.  316 

153 

Linn,  James     .                 .       :. 

129 

59 

166 

275 

Linn,  William          .        .        • 

154 

97 

Liverraore,  Samuel      .        , 

.     18 

Livingston,  Edward         .  .     , 

209 

229 

Livingston,  Henry  Brockholst 

.  177 

246 

Livingston,  Henry  Philip 

196 

135 

Livingston,  Maturin    .       V 

.  230 

Livingston,  Peter  R.  .     . 

52 

85 

Livingston,  Peter  V.  B.       . 

.  108 

72 

Livingston,  Peter  William 

230 

312 

Livingston,  Philip  Peter     . 

.    52 

313 

Livingston,  Philip  Phils 

52 

249 

Livingston,  William  Smith 

.  155 

249 

Low,  Cornelius 

19 

185 

Luckey,  George   .         .        . 

.  155 

108 

Lydekker,  Garret     . 

36 

Lyon,  James         .        .        . 

.    60 

283 

Lyon,  Joseph    .        .                • 

86 

185 

153 

Macconnell,  James      .        , 

.  167 

65 

Macay,  Spruce          ... 

188 

7 

Macpherson,  John 

.  110 

52 

Madison,  James        .        •      .. 

143 

72 

Mahon,  William 

.  211 

INDEX. 


323 


Manning,  James       .     ,    .  *• 

77 

Noble,  Obadiah    . 

Markoe,  Francis  .  .....  ff.       . 

.  255 

Noel,  John  Y.    . 

Marsh,  Amos    .        .        .  ;     . 

230 

Noyes,  Ebenezer 

Martin,  Alexander        . 

.    38 

Noyes,  Joshua 

Martin,  Henry           .        .        . 

14 

Noyes,  Nathaniel 

Martin,  Luther    .      ',. 

.  Ill 

Martin,  Thomas        .        .        .... 

78 

Odell,  Jonathan 

Mason,  Jonathan          «.-      , 

.  179 

Ogden,  Aaron 

Matthews,  David      .      -  .        . 

30 

Ogden,  Henry  W.     . 

Maxwell,  George  C.     .  .  .  ...  . 

.  262 

Ogden,  Isaac 

McAden,  Hugh          -..  .,    . 

24 

Ogden,  John  Cosins 

McAllister,  Matthew   ,        . 

.  204 

Ogden,  Jonathan 

McCaule,  Thomas  Harris 

178 

Ogden,  Josiah  . 

McCalla,  Daniel  .    '....'    ', 

.  109 

Ogden,  Robert 

McClintock,  Samuel          .        . 

13 

Ogden,  Robert 

McCorkle,  Samuel  E. 

.  156 

Osborne,  Adlai     . 

McCrackin,  Thomas          , 

72 

Osborne,  Sylvanus    . 

McCrea,  John       •         .         . 

.     77 

Otto,  Jacob  S.       .         . 

McCrery,  John 

92 

Otto,  John  C.    . 

McKesson,  John  . 

.    24 

Palmer,  Benjamin  M. 

McKnight,  Charles 

142 

Parkhurst,  Samuel  . 

McKnight,  John 

.  167 

Paterson,  William 

McMillan,  John 

157 

Paulison,  Paul          .  .      . 

McMullen,  French  T.    . 

.  295 

Pearson,  Robert   . 

McPherrin,  Thomas  .        .         . 

136 

Peck,  Joseph    . 

McRee,  James      .        . 

.  188 

Pemberton,  Ebenezer  . 

McWhorter,  Alexander     . 

46 

Pendleton,  Philip  C. 

McWhorter,  Alex.  Gumming 

.  223 

Peppard,  Francis 

Melville,  Thomas     . 

129 

Periam,  Joseph 

Mercer,  Charles  Fenton 

.  301 

Perkins,  Nathan 

Merchant,  George    . 

204 

Perrine,  Matthew  La  Rue 

Miller,  Alexander 

.    92 

Perry,  William    . 

Mills,  William         . 

39 

Peyton,  John  Howe          , 

Milner,  John 

.    53 

Pierce,  Thomas    . 

Mitchell,  Alexander         .•       . 

99 

Pierson,  Cyrus 

Moffat,  John 

.      7 

Pierson,  Isaac 

Montgomery,  John  . 

189 

Pintard,  John 

Montgomery,  Joseph  . 

.    36 

Platt,  Richard 

Moody,  John    .       ..'.., 

295 

Polhemus,  Henry 

Morford,  Edmund 

.  302 

Pollock,  George        .     .  . 

Morris,  Lewis  .... 

179 

Pollock.  Thomas 

Morton,  Jacob 
Morton,  George  Washington  . 

.  202 
262 

Pomeroy,  Ralph 
Potter,  Nathaniel 

Nash,  Fredrick    , 
Neilson,  John  .        .        . 

.  313 

269 

Power,  James  . 
Prime,  Benjamin  Y.     . 
Purviance,  David 

Niles,  Nathaniel  .         .       ;. 

.  112 

Niles,  Samuel  .... 

130    Radcliff,  Jacob     . 

80 
200 
60 
60 
61 

31 

168 

295 

223 

136 

99 

39 

99 

269 

124 

31 

302 

262 

316 

47 

86 

277 

211 

39 

100 

295 

78 

79 

136 

302 

247 

303 

61 

197 

247 

197 

169 

277 

235 

230 

53 

25 

113 

14 

31 

216 


324 


INDEX. 


Radcliff,  William      .       .. 

.      223 

Sergeant,  John     .      "';'•  " 

Ramsay,  David    .        '.  '  "    . 

.  100 

Sergeant,  Jonathan  D. 

Ramsay,  Nathaniel 

.       118 

Sergeant,  Thomas        f    : 

Ramsay,  William         .        . 

.     31 

Shannon,  Samuel     . 

Rdttoone,  Elijah  D. 

.       235 

Sherburne,  Henry        ..  "'•• 

Reade,  John          .        A 

.  235 

Sherman,  Josiah       . 

Reed,  Dennis  D.  B.  . 

.      303 

Sherman,  Nathaniel    '.    ' 

Reed,  George  Washington 

.  309 

Shippen,  Joseph       .     '". 

Reed,  Joseph     .         .        . 

47 

Shippen,  William   '  .  . 

Reed,  Joseph        .         .        . 

.  2C4 

Simpson,  John          .        . 

Reese,  Edwin    .         .        . 

.      277 

Simpson,  John  N.         ,  ' 

Reese,  Oliver        .     '  \  ,.      . 

.  158 

Skillman,  Isaac        .        . 

Reese,  Thomas         .        . 

.       125 

Slemmons,  John  .        't.     ' 

Reeve,  Tapping    .         •      .  * 

.     87 

Siemens,  John  B.      .        '; 

Reid,  Israel       .         .         * 

2 

Sloan,  William  B. 

Rice,  David  .        .        . 

72 

Smalley,  Henry  '      . 

Riddle,  James  .        .         * 

.      204 

Smith,  Belcher  Peartree 

Riggs,  Elias         .        .        • 

.  284 

Smith,  Charles         .       !j 

Rodgers,  John  R.  B. 

.      189 

Smith,  David 

Roe  Azel        ... 

40 

Smith,  Edward  D.              . 

Rogers,  James          . 

.      313 

Smith,  Hexekiah           . 

Romeyn,  Theodore  D.       •  '  . 

.  101 

Smith,  Isaac     . 

Root,  Jesse        .        , 

41 

Smith,  Isaac         .        . 

Roots,  Benajah     .        . 

.    32 

Smith,  James  .        .        . 

Rosb  rough,  John 

73 

Smith,  John        '. 

Ross,  Robert        .        .        . 

.     15 

Smith,  John  B.  .     .         . 

Ross,  William  .        .        . 

.      264 

Smith,  John  R.     . 

Ruan,  James 

.  264 

Smith,  John  W.      . 

Ruan,  John, 

.      250 

Smith,  Jonathan  B. 

Rue,  Joseph          .         .        . 

.  198 

Smith,  Joseph  .                 , 

Rush,  Benjamin        .     •.  . 

66 

Smith,  Rjbert  F.      .  r     . 

Rush,  Jacob 

.  101 

Smith,  Samuel     .        . 

Rush,  Richard           .        . 

.      303 

Smith,  Samuel  Stanhope 

Russell,  Caleb      .        .       -. 

.  137 

Smith,  Thomas    . 

Russell,  Robert 

.      264 

Smith,  Thomas        .     "  . 

Ruston,  Thomas  .         .         . 

.     79 

Smith,  Thomas    .         » 

Rutherford,  John      . 

.      198 

Smith,  Timothy  T.  . 

Smith,  William  . 

Say  re,  Stephen    .    \.  ,  .      . 

.    49 

Smith,  William  R.  .        .' 

Say  res,  John  J.          .    •    . 

.      264 

Smith,  WilliamS. 

Sample,  Nathaniel  W.          . 

.  198 

Snowden,  Benjamin  P.     ; 

Schenck,  William    .      :  .    . 

.       119 

Snowden,  Charles        ,OV! 

Scott,  Archibald  .   1  &«&& 

.  190 

Snowden,  Gilbert  T. 

Scott,  Joseph  Warren  i^i".:. 

.      284 

Snowden,  Nathaniel  R. 

Scudder,  John  A.       :  '-.>    ;•"  .' 

190    Snovvden,  Samuel  F. 

Scudder,  Joseph       Y  •  .  '!., 

203   Spencer,  John  B.        •  .  'j: 

Scudder,  Nathaniel      .        , 

.     15  '  Spencer,  Samuel     •  .t-iiix!. 

Sergeant,  Henry 

309  1  Spring,  Alpheus           ,ij- 

.  285 

79 

.309 

198 

.  61 

32 

.  25 
25 

.  33 

88 

.  277 

115 
.  67 

278 
.  265 

230 
.  169 

230 
.  50 

286 

.  80 

37 

.  137 

49 

.  137 

170 
.  235 

286 

.  67 

92 

318 
.  115 

130 

.  33 

53 

.  126 

239 
.  115 

171 
.  179 

199 
.  247 

217 
.  236 

231 

.  224 

61 

.  115 


INDEX. 


325 


Spring,  Samuel 
Springer,  John    .fci: 
Staples,  John    .  .7f  4fc; 
Stelle,  Benjamin 
Stewart,  Samuel  R. 
Stockton,  Ebenezer 
Stockton,  Lucius  H. 
Stockton,  Richard 
Stockton,  Richard    . 
Stockton,  Samuel  W. 
Stone,  David     . 
Stone,  Fredrick    . 
Story,  Isaac 
Strain,  John 
Stravvbridge,  John  . 

Taylor,  Edward    . 
Taylor,  John    . 
Taylor,  Robert  J. 
Templeton,  James 
Ten  Eyke,  Abraham 
Tennent,  Charles 
Tennent,  John  V.  B. 
Tennent,  William     . 
Tennent,  William  M. 
Thane,  Daniel 
Thatcher,  Josiah 
Thayer,  Alexander  . 
Thayer,  Elihu     . 
Thew,  Daniel    . 
Thomson,  Amos  . 
Thomson,  Jacob  S.  . 
Thomson,  James 
Thomson,  Smith 
Thomson,  Stephen 
Thurston,  David 
Tichenor,  Isaac     . 
Tilton,  James   . 
Todd,  John  .         .    • 
Townsend,  Micah     . 
Tracy,  Stephen 
Treadwell,  Thomas  » 
Treat,  Joseph 
Troup,  George  Mel. 
Tuttle,  James     . 

Vanarsdale,  Elias 
Vanartsdalen,  Jacob 


145 

Van  Bunschooten,  Elias 

191 

Vance,  Hugh        .     '  1  ,  /? 

101 

Van  Cleve,  John 

115 

Van  Cleve,  John  W. 

231 

Van  Cortlandt,  Nicholas  B. 

206 

Van  Derveer,  Lawrence 

236 

Van  Doren,  Isaac     .      --. 

2 

Van  Dyke,  Nicholas    . 

204 

Van  Mater,  Joseph  H. 

119 

Van  Rensselaer,  Jeremiah 

239 

Voorhees,  Stephen     . 

255 

Venable,  Abraham  B. 

126 

Venable,  Joseph  . 

50 

Venable,  Nathaniel 

305 

Venable,  Richard  N. 

Venable,  Samuel  W. 

217 

250 

Wade,  Nehemiah 

•286 

Wadhams,  Noah    . 

158 

Wallace,  Caleb 

288 

Wallace,  John  B. 

269 

Wallace,  Joshua  Madox  . 

54 

Wallace,  Matthew  G.     . 

54 

Warford,  John 

89 

Watkins,  William  M.    . 

4 

Watson,  John     . 

67 

Watt,  James 

102 

Waugh,  Samuel 

133 

Wells,  Henry 

236 

Wells,  John     . 

68 

Whitaker,  Nathaniel  . 

265 

Whittlesey,  Eleazer      . 

75 

Whitwell,  Samuel    . 

240 

Whitwell,  William 

305 

Wiley,  David    . 

16 

Wilkin,  James      . 

191 

Willing,  George 

288 

Williams,  Simeon 

7 

Williams,  Simon     . 

116 

Williamson,  Mathias   . 

137 

Williamson,  William  R.  . 

93 

Wilson,  Ephraem  K. 

50 

Wilson,  James 

305 

Wilson,  Lewis  F.         .        . 

94 

Wilson,  Peter       .    /    . 

Wilson,  Samuel 

256 

Wisner,  Henry  G. 

102 

Witherspoon,  David 

126 
120 

305 
231 
180 

75 
269 
240 
310 

55 
102 
207 
218 
296 
212 
206 

199 

33 
138 
279 
270 
288 
180 
265 
305 

89 
171 

51 
240 

19 

8 

180 

56 
242 
226 
266 
102 

89 
138 
279 
247 
138 
171 
203 
212 
314 
181 


326 


INDEX. 


Witlierspoon,  James 
Witherspoon,  John 
Witherspoon,  John  R. 
Wood,  Silas       .    .~&i 
Woodbridge,  Jahleel 
Woodhull,  George  S. 
Woodhull,  John  . 
Woodhull,  William 
Woodman,  Joseph 
Woodruff,  Aaron  D. 


138 
172 
279 
248 
75 
251 
116 
.  94 
116 
205 


Woodruff,  Abner 
Woodruff,  Benjamin 
Woodruff,  George  W. 
Woodruff,  Joseph 
Woods,  Matthew 
Wright,  Clayton    . 
Wright,  John 

Zubley,  David    . 


224 
26 

218 

26 

203 

288 
20 

133 


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